Unless the statute providing for the bond requires execution by an admitted surety insurer, a bond shall be executed by two or more sufficient personal sureties or by one sufficient admitted surety insurer or by any combination of sufficient personal sureties and admitted surety insurers.
§ 995.310.Execution By Personal Sureties Or Admitted Surety Insurers
Title 14. Of Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 2. Bonds and Undertakings · Article 3. Execution and Filing · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 995.310 requires a bond to be executed by at least two sufficient personal sureties, one sufficient admitted surety insurer, or a combination of both, unless the statute providing for the bond specifically requires an admitted surety insurer.
Full Text of § 995.310
Plain-English Summary
This is the chapter's default rule on who can back a bond. Absent a contrary statutory requirement, a bond can be executed by two or more sufficient personal sureties, by a single sufficient admitted surety insurer, or by any mix of personal sureties and admitted surety insurers that together satisfy the sufficiency standard.
That flexibility disappears only if the statute providing for the particular bond specifically requires execution by an admitted surety insurer — a requirement § 995.311 imposes categorically for public works contract bonds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many personal sureties does a bond need if it isn't backed by an insurer?
At least two sufficient personal sureties, under § 995.310's default rule.
Can a bond mix a personal surety and an admitted surety insurer?
Yes, any combination of sufficient personal sureties and admitted surety insurers is allowed under this section.
When is a personal surety not an option at all?
When the statute providing for the bond specifically requires execution by an admitted surety insurer, as § 995.311 does for public works contract bonds.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 998, Sec. 1.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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