Bail Bonds Service Practice Test

A distinguishing feature of surety bonds is that they involve an insurance company or surety who guarantees the bond on behalf of the defendant. In this arrangement, the surety assumes the risk of ensuring that the defendant appears in court as required. If the defendant fails to appear, the surety is responsible for paying the full amount of the bond to the court. This is different from other types of bonds, such as bail bonds that may require collateral from the defendant or personal bonds which do not necessitate any third party involvement. The involvement of a surety is fundamentally what characterizes this type of bond, as it hinges on the assurance provided by the insurance company or surety rather than solely on the personal credit or assets of the defendant.