Although the estate requirements for a probate court differ by state, most jurisdictions need a surety bond. What is the reason for this? Simply put, a probate bond safeguards the interests of heirs and creditors who are awaiting the release of their funds following probate. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about corporate surety bonds if you’ve never had one before.
A probate bond is essentially a contract between three parties: the principal (also known as the obligee), which is your company; the corporate surety, which promises to give financial backing for your commitments; and the beneficiary or person who requests the bond. As with any contract, the three parties must agree on the conditions, and if one of them violates the agreement, the other two may be able to suit.
The most important thing to remember is that you should not disobey any of these regulations because the corporate surety can cancel your bond at any time. In most places, if your bond is terminated for any reason, getting a new one is quite tough. In general, a probate bond protects heirs from financial loss caused by mishandling or misuse of cash while the estate is being administered.
A surety bond is essentially a type of insurance. When you buy a surety bond, the corporate surety agrees to pay out any claims made against your company in accordance with the contract’s terms and circumstances.
This means that if any loss or damage occurs as a result of your failure to follow the rules that were explained during contract negotiations, the corporate surety will cover those costs up to the amount specified in your bond agreement.
So, what happens when the probate process is completed?
Before closing down your company’s operations after probate, it’s normally recommended that you’ve left enough money behind to pay off all creditors and meet all existing debts/obligations. Why? Consider this: even though your firm has been formally closed, creditors can still pursue you if you don’t have enough money to cover your debts. After the probate process is done and all obligations have been paid, you can close the business and rest easy knowing that everything has been handled legally.
A surety is a third party who agrees to ensure that the contract’s conditions are followed. In other words, if you or the beneficiary breaches your contract, the corporate surety can be relied upon to make whatever financial modifications are required. If you don’t follow your bond agreement’s requirements or misappropriate funds as executor or administrator of an estate, the corporate surety may be forced to pay instead.
The cost of a probate surety bond is determined by the size, type, and complexity of your company’s operations. If your company works in numerous states throughout the country, for example, the risk to the corporate surety would increase, and the premium will rise proportionally. Not only that, but if you’re dealing with large sums of money or major transactions involving other companies or people, especially those you don’t know well, you’re taking on more risk, and your bond may cost more as a result.
Corporate surety bonds can cost anywhere from $500 (for a simple/small bond) to several million dollars (for a complex/large bond). However, depending on the amount of money you’re dealing and the hazards involved, they usually range from $10,000 to $20,000.
A surety guarantee is comparable to a corporate surety bond, but it is not backed by the corporate surety’s full faith and credit. If you can’t afford or don’t want to pay for a standard bond but still need financial protection, this could be a possibility. The disadvantage is that they are usually limited in size, time, scope, or some other way, which means they won’t give you the same degree of coverage that a traditional bond would – so it’s better to research your options well before making any major decisions.
A corporate surety bond and a corporate surety guarantee are not the same things. A Surety Guarantee is also known as a “Performance Bond,” which is a similar term. The most significant distinction between these two names is found in their legal definitions. Although both bands are commonly employed for the same goals, they have different legal meanings.
A surety guarantee is similar to a corporate surety bond, except that it is granted for a shorter length of time. In the majority of cases, this is one year or fewer.
A surety bond protects your company by acting as insurance. It’s essentially a financial safety net that protects you or the estate of a deceased person against financial loss under specific circumstances. If you’re serving as an executor of an estate, for example, you’re legally obligated to make the required judgments about asset and property management throughout probate.
You’ll also be responsible for ensuring that everyone engaged in the process is paid out accurately, including creditors, beneficiaries, and heirs. If something goes wrong, such as one of these persons attempting to make a claim against you or your firm because they believe they aren’t getting their fair share or that you made a mistake, the corporate surety will assist you in fighting off or resolving the claim.
A corporate surety bond works by transferring the risk of wrongdoing from your company to the surety company. This basically implies that if you break the terms of your contract, the corporate surety will have to decide whether or not to pay up on any claims made against you.
If they do pay – either in full or in part – you may have to deduct this sum from your future earnings or assets (depending on what was agreed upon). So don’t assume that just because you have a probate surety bond in place, things will run smoothly. You must still follow the law, rules, and regulations; otherwise, you may face a lawsuit in the future.
Axcess Surety is the premier provider of surety bonds nationally. We work individuals and businesses across the country to provide the best surety bond programs at the best price.
