Do you charge an annual renewal premium for administrator or executor bonds that are $25,000 or less?

No. These types of bonds are a one-time premium provided the bond amount stays at $25,000 or below.

If the bond is canceled within the first year, will you return any unearned premium?

No, the first year's premium on ALL bond types is fully earned and there is no refund.

If the court enters an order fully restricting all the assets in a probate estate so that funds cannot be released without a court order, do you continue to charge a renewal premium for that bond?

No, not on a bank account. If the bank provides a verification of restricted account for the full amount of the assets in the estate AND the Bond amount is reduced to $2,000 or less, no further premium will be charged as long as the full amount stays restricted and the reduction of the bond penalty remains in place. The principal may also receive a pro-rated return on the premium already paid depending on the date the funds were restricted and the bond amount reduced.

If I pay the renewal premium and the estate closes shortly after the renewal date, will I get any of that premium back?

Yes, to the extent the amount of premium attributable to that portion of the year that the bond is not needed exceeds the minimum premium of $100.

e.g.: If an estate closes 3 months after the bond renews and the bond renewal premium is $250, to calculate the "unearned premium" you multiply the bond renewal premium by the percentage of the year the bond is not needed. ($250x.75). The unearned premium amount in this example is 187.50. The total bond amount less the unearned premium is the "earned premium". 250-187.50=62.50. Since the "earned" amount is less than the $100 minimum, $100 will be retained and the difference( $150), will be returned to the principal.

Do we require joint control/restriction? (This means that someone in addition to the fiduciary must approve the release of funds from the estate bank account.)

We DO require joint control/restriction in Conservator estates AND for Trustee's bonds.

Joint Control Procedures: Two bank accounts are established: one that is subject to the two-signature withdrawal requirement; and a working account under the sole control of the fiduciary. The working account is initially funded with enough money to cover the reasonable and anticipated expenses of the ward for a one-year period. All other assets are placed in the joint control account and/or in a safe deposit box subject to the joint control agreement. If the working account is properly funded, the attorney should only need to be involved once per year in authorizing the annual funding of the working account.

Restriction Procedures: The fiduciary petitions the court to restrict all assets of the estate. Upon receiving the court order, the fiduciary must have a Verification of Restriction form executed by the financial institution (bank or brokerage firm) holding the assets confirming that all assets are restricted and cannot be withdrawn without a court order. The executed form must be filed with the probate court and a copy sent to the surety company.

Note: There are some exceptions to the joint control/restriction requirement.

Do you require collateral on bonds?

Yes, on the following types of bonds.

Court bonds other than probate;
Lost Instrument Bonds
License and Permit Bonds
Miscellaneous Type Bonds

Our office must receive collateral BEFORE a bond can be issued. Sometimes it can take up to two weeks to get a letter of credit from the bank so we always encourage the attorney/agent to get the principal to start the process immediately upon receiving our application.

Do we check the credit history of the principal?

Yes.

What information do you need besides the application to make an underwriting decision?

It depends on the type of bond being written. Each application lists the additional documents that are needed in order to underwrite the bond. Generally, probate court bonds require a fully executed bond application and a copy of the application for letters. On Small Estate Bonds, we require the bond application and the Affidavit for Small Estate. The court bonds other than probate require the bond application, a current financial statement, a copy of the relevant pleadings, and in most cases collateral.

Why do you require joint control or collateral, aren't we buying an insurance policy?

No. A surety bond is not an insurance policy. A policy of insurance is designed to protect the insured against an unexpected loss. A surety bond, on the other hand, is designed to protect the obligee, which is the person or persons to whom the principal (the person being bonded) owes some duty or obligation. A person buys a bond because they have an agreement with a third party who requires a guarantee that the obligation will be fulfilled.