Surety insurance includes:

(a) The guaranteeing of behavior of persons and the guaranteeing of performance of contracts (including executing or guaranteeing bonds and undertakings required or permitted in all actions or proceedings or by law allowed), other than insurance policies and other than for payments secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument constituting a lien or charge on real estate.

Terms Used In California Insurance Code 105

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Insurance Code 28

(b) Insurance against loss resulting from the forgery or alteration of any instrument of any kind or character or of any signature thereon. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit any of the powers of title insurers.

(c) Any of the following insurance when included as a part of contract containing any such guarantee of behavior or performance or in a contract indemnifying any bank, banker, broker, financial or moneyed corporation or association, any state, political subdivision, public or municipal corporation, or any officer of any state, political subdivision, public or municipal corporation: Insurance indemnifying the insured named therein against loss or destruction from any cause of any evidences of debt of any kind or character, evidences of ownership of any kind or character, deeds, mortgages, warehouse receipts, bills of lading, certificates of stock, bonds, notes, drafts, checks, instruments of similar character, stamps, documents, money, precious metals of any kind or character, refined or unrefined, and articles made therefrom, jewelry, watches, necklaces, bracelets, gems and precious and semiprecious stones, and also against loss or damage, except by fire, to the insured’s premises, furnishings, fixtures, equipment, safes and vaults therein caused by burglary, robbery, holdup, theft or larceny or attempt thereat. No such insurance indemnifying against loss of any property as specified herein shall indemnify against loss of any such property occurring while in the mail or in the exclusive custody or possession of a common carrier for the purpose of transportation, except for the purpose of transportation by an armored motor vehicle.

(d) No insurance may be written as surety insurance if it falls within the definition of financial guaranty insurance as set forth in Section 12100.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1032, Sec. 1.)