Except as otherwise provided by statute, a bond given by an officer of the court for the faithful discharge of the officer's duties and obedience to the orders of the court shall be to the State of California.
§ 995.820.Bond Given By Officer of Court
Title 14. Of Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 2. Bonds and Undertakings · Article 8. Bonds to the State of California · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 995.820 provides that, unless a statute says otherwise, a bond given by a court officer for the faithful discharge of duties and obedience to court orders runs to the State of California.
Full Text of § 995.820
Plain-English Summary
A court officer's bond guarantees good behavior in office -- faithful performance of duties and obedience to the court's orders. This section sets the default beneficiary for that kind of bond: unless some other statute specifies otherwise, it runs to the State of California, not to any individual party or the court itself.
That default matters because it determines who can enforce the bond if the officer breaches it. Section 995.850 explains that anyone the bond was given to benefit, and who's damaged by the breach, can enforce liability in their own name -- even though the state is the named obligee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the beneficiary of a court officer's bond by default?
The State of California, unless another statute specifies a different beneficiary.
Does this rule apply to every bond a court officer gives?
It applies specifically to bonds securing faithful discharge of duties and obedience to court orders, and only when no other statute already names the beneficiary.
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
Also known as: court officer bond california stateofficial bond beneficiary california