(a) If a bond is given other than in an action or proceeding and it is shown by affidavit of a credible witness or it otherwise comes to the attention of the officer that the bond is or has from any cause become insufficient because the sureties are insufficient or because the amount of the bond is insufficient, the officer may serve an order on the principal to appear and show cause why the officer should not make a determination that the bond is insufficient. The order shall name a day not less than three or more than 10 days after service.
§ 996.020.Order By Officer Served On Principal to Appear and Show Cause
Title 14. Of Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 2. Bonds and Undertakings · Article 10. Insufficient and Excessive Bonds · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 996.020 lets an officer who receives credible evidence that a bond given outside an action or proceeding has become insufficient order the principal to appear and show cause within three to ten days, then, absent good cause shown, determine the bond insufficient, order a replacement, and vacate the rights the original bond secured if a sufficient bond isn't given within ten days.
Full Text of § 996.020
(b) If the principal fails to appear or show good cause on the day named why a determination that the bond is insufficient should not be made, the officer may determine that the bond is insufficient and order a sufficient new, additional, or supplemental bond to be given.
(c) If a sufficient bond is not given within 10 days after the order, the officer shall make an order vacating the rights obtained by giving the original bond, including declaring vacant any office and suspending or revoking any license or certificate for which the bond was given. Any office vacated, license suspended or revoked, or any other rights lost, for failure to give a new, additional, or supplemental bond, shall not be reinstated until a new, additional, or supplemental bond is given.
Plain-English Summary
Section 996.010 covers bonds given in litigation; this section is its counterpart for bonds given outside any action or proceeding -- a bond securing a license, for example, or a public office. When a credible affidavit, or information otherwise reaching the officer, shows the bond has become insufficient in its sureties or amount, the officer can serve the principal with an order to appear and show cause why the bond shouldn't be found insufficient, set for a day between three and ten days after service.
If the principal doesn't appear, or doesn't show good cause on that day, the officer can determine the bond insufficient and order a sufficient new, additional, or supplemental bond. Subdivision (c) sets real teeth on that order: if a sufficient bond isn't given within ten days, the officer vacates the rights the original bond secured -- declaring an office vacant, or suspending or revoking a license or certificate, as the case may be. Once lost that way, the office, license, or certificate stays lost until a new, additional, or supplemental bond is given.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers this show-cause procedure?
Credible evidence, by affidavit or otherwise, that a bond given outside an action or proceeding has become insufficient because of its sureties or amount.
How much notice does the principal get before the show-cause hearing?
Between three and ten days after service of the order.
What happens if the principal doesn't show good cause?
The officer can determine the bond insufficient and order a new, additional, or supplemental bond given.
What if a sufficient bond isn't given within ten days of that order?
The officer vacates the rights secured by the original bond -- including declaring an office vacant or suspending or revoking a license or certificate -- until a sufficient bond is given.
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: officer determines bond insufficient californiashow cause order bond insufficient license