§ 995.660.Documents Submitted By Insurer If Objection Made to Sufficiency Or Approval of Bond Required
Title 14. Of Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 2. Bonds and Undertakings · Article 6. Admitted Surety Insurers · Last amended 1995 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 995.660 requires an admitted surety insurer, once its sufficiency is objected to or its bond requires approval, to submit its authorization instrument, certificate of authority, county clerk's certificate, and recent financial statements within ten days of each request, and directs the court or officer to accept the insurer as sufficient once those documents show it is authorized and adequately capitalized.
(a)If an objection is made to the sufficiency of an admitted surety insurer on a bond or if the bond is required to be approved, the insurer shall submit to the court or officer the following documents:
(1)The original, or a certified copy, of the unrevoked appointment, power of attorney, bylaws, or other instrument entitling or authorizing the person who executed the bond to do so, within 10 calendar days of the insurer's receipt of a request to submit the instrument.
(2)A certified copy of the certificate of authority of the insurer issued by the Insurance Commissioner, within 10 calendar days of the insurer's receipt of a request to submit the copy.
(3)A certificate from the clerk of the county in which the court or officer is located that the certificate of authority of the insurer has not been surrendered, revoked, canceled, annulled, or suspended or, in the event that it has, that renewed authority has been granted, within 10 calendar days of the insurer's receipt of the certificate.
(4)Copies of the insurer's most recent annual statement and quarterly statement filed with the Department of Insurance pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 900) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code, within 10 calendar days of the insurer's receipt of a request to submit the statements.
(b)If the admitted surety insurer complies with subdivision (a), and if it appears that the bond was duly executed, that the insurer is authorized to transact surety insurance in the state, and that its assets exceed its liabilities in an amount equal to or in excess of the amount of the bond, the insurer is sufficient and shall be accepted or approved as surety on the bond, subject to Section 12090 of the Insurance Code.
Plain-English Summary
Once an admitted surety insurer's sufficiency is challenged, or its bond needs approval, this section spells out exactly what the insurer must produce and how fast. Within ten calendar days of each request, the insurer must submit the original or a certified copy of its authorization instrument, a certified copy of its certificate of authority from the Insurance Commissioner, a county clerk's certificate confirming that authority hasn't lapsed (or has been renewed), and copies of its most recent annual and quarterly financial statements filed with the Department of Insurance.
Subdivision (b) tells the court or officer what to do with those documents. If the insurer complies and the paperwork shows the bond was properly executed, the insurer is authorized to write surety insurance in California, and its assets exceed its liabilities by at least the bond amount, the insurer counts as sufficient and must be accepted or approved as surety -- subject to Insurance Code § 12090.
Section 995.670 builds on this by barring public agencies from layering additional requirements onto what this section already demands, and § 995.675 carves out a narrow exception for certain environmental regulators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents must an admitted surety insurer produce once its sufficiency is challenged?
Its authorization instrument, a certified certificate of authority, a county clerk's certificate, and its most recent financial statements filed with the Department of Insurance.
How much time does the insurer have to produce these documents?
Ten calendar days from receipt of each request.
What must the court or officer find to treat the insurer as sufficient?
That the bond was duly executed, the insurer is authorized to transact surety insurance in California, and its assets exceed its liabilities by at least the bond amount.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 487, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.
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
Also known as:admitted surety insurer documentation requirements californiaproving surety insurer sufficiency california