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Title 31, Money and FinanceRelease 119-102

§9304 Surety Corporations

Title 31 › SUBTITLE VI — MISCELLANEOUS › CHAPTER 93 — SURETIES AND SURETY BONDS › § 9304

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A person meets a federal requirement to give a surety bond when the bond is provided by a corporation that is set up under U.S. or state (including DC or territory) law, that is allowed under those laws to guarantee the honesty of people in positions of trust and to handle bonds used in court, and that follows the rules in sections 9305 and 9306. The government official who must accept the bond must approve each bond. That official cannot demand the bond be provided through one particular guaranty corporation.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §9304

Money and Finance, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)When a law of the United States Government requires or permits a person to give a surety bond through a surety, the person satisfies the law if the surety bond is provided for the person by a corporation—
(1)incorporated under the laws of—
(A)the United States; or
(B)a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States;
(2)that may under those laws guarantee—
(A)the fidelity of persons holding positions of trust; and
(B)bonds and undertakings in judicial proceedings; and
(3)complying with section 9305 and 9306 of this title.
(b)Each surety bond shall be approved by the official of the Government required to approve or accept the bond. The official may not require that the surety bond be given through a guaranty corporation or through any particular guaranty corporation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 93046:6. Subsection (a) is substituted for 6:6(1st sentence) to eliminate unnecessary words and for clarity and consistency. Clause (3) is added for clarity. In subsection (b), the words “Each surety bond” are substituted for “Such recognizance, stipulation, bond, or undertaking”, the words “official of the Government” are substituted for “head of department, court, judge, officer, board, or body executive, legislative, or judicial”, and the word “official” is substituted for “officer or person having the approval of any bond”, to eliminate unnecessary words and for clarity and consistency.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 9304

Title 31, Money and Finance

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102