Surety bonds are required for many purposes — to run a business, to ensure ethical conduct, to enforce performance standards, and more. There are many types of surety bonds Georgia. These can be divided into four main categories:

1. Contract Surety Bonds

These bonds are typically required in the construction industry from contractors, sub-contractors, and construction companies. Contract bonds are common in Federal and State construction projects. The bond is usually submitted along with the bid for a project. It ensures that the principal will carry out the construction as per the project details outlined.

The bond protects the State from any default by the construction company or the contractor. Since bonds are issued after a thorough vetting, the process of bonding itself ensures that only financially solvent companies are in the running. The different types of contract bonds include bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, and maintenance bonds.

2. Commercial Surety Bonds

 These surety bonds Georgia are required in certain professions and businesses. The bond ensures that the business adheres to the rules and regulations of the industry. Some of the industries where a commercial surety bond is necessary are licensed contractors, lottery ticket distribution, liquor distribution, auto dealers, and notary publics.

The most important types of commercial surety bonds are license and permit bonds and mortgage broker bonds. Many of the commercial surety bonds are industry-specific, so before starting any business, or starting out as an independent professional, it is critical to see whether you need a commercial surety bond. Businesses operating across different industries will require multiple bonds.

3. Fidelity Surety Bond

 A fidelity bond protects a company against any fraud or malpractice by its employees. This is a kind of blanket bond, where one bond protects the entire company from the misconduct of any employee. This type of bond is required by companies that interact with the common public and thus need to be ethical and honest.

 Companies that are typically required to buy this kind of bond include businesses that deal with money or make home visits – including banks, in-home service providers, and delivery companies. Fidelity surety bonds include business services bonds, employee dishonesty bonds, and ERISA bonds.

4. Court Surety Bond

This type of surety bonds Georgia is often bought voluntarily by plaintiffs and defendants in a court case. They can be required by law, but people often buy them to protect themselves against damages. A court surety bond protects the principal against any potential loss which would result from court proceedings. Court surety bonds include cost bonds, administrator bonds, guardianship bonds, and attachment bonds.

A surety bond is a contract between three parties: principal, obligee and surety. Under the bond, the surety promises the obligee that the principal will act per the terms of the contract. There are many types of surety bonds that are common in the business and professional world. Bonds are a means of ensuring ethical and professional conduct.

There are three parties in a bond:

Principal:The principal is the party required to buy the bond and is usually a business or a professional who requires the bond to operate. According to the bond, the principal must act per the contract.

Surety: This is the party that acts as a guarantor, ensuring the obligee that the principal will perform their contractual obligation. The surety is usually an insurance or surety company that sells surety bonds.

Obligee: This is the party that is the recipient of the bond. It is usually a government body and the bond is usually a requirement to issuea contract or a license.

How does it work?

If you are a professional or someone running a business, you may be required to buy a surety bonds Georgia as a condition of your licensing or registration. Some bonds, such as a bid bond or performance bond, are also required to bid on a contract. The bid bond is usually demanded by an authority, such as a state licensing body. You can buy the bond from a surety company.

An underwriter for the surety will conduct a background check to ensure you are a good risk. This usually includes factors like past performance, business capability and financial stability. In short, the underwriter will ascertain whether you can maintain your contractual obligation. For a surety, a background check is critical to protect their obligation.

Types of surety bonds

There are many types of surety bonds; however, here are four types of surety bonds Georgia:

• Contract bonds:These are bonds that are usually required in the construction industry.
• Commercial bonds: There are many sub-types of commercial bonds. It ensures that a bonded company or professional follows industry rules.
• Fidelity bonds: Protect companies from employee misconduct.
• Court bonds: Court bond is a general term used for all surety bonds that are needed by individuals when they are involved in pursuing an action through a court of law.