Terms Used In South Carolina Code 38-53-280

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Professional bondsman: means any person who is approved and licensed under the provisions of this chapter and who pledges cash or approved securities with the clerk of court as security for bail bonds written in connection with a judicial proceeding and receives or is promised money or other things of value for the pledge. See South Carolina Code 38-53-10
  • Sell: means to exchange a contract of insurance by any means, for money or its equivalent, on behalf of an insurance company. See South Carolina Code 38-1-20
The securities deposited by a professional bondsman with the clerk of court must be held in trust for the sole protection and benefit of the holder of bail bonds executed by or on behalf of the undersigned bondsman in this State. A pro rata portion of the securities must be returned to the bondsman when the clerk of court is satisfied that the deposit of securities is in excess of the amount required to be maintained with him by the bondsman. All the securities must be returned if the clerk of court is satisfied that the bondsman has satisfied, or satisfactory arrangements have been made to satisfy, the obligations of the bondsman on all of his bail bonds written in the State. The clerk of court may sell or transfer any of the securities or utilize the proceeds of the securities for the purpose of satisfying the liabilities of the professional bondsman on bail bonds given in this State on which he is liable.