A surety bond is a three-party agreement between: 1. The Principal — the defendant who needs to be released from custody 2. The Obligee — the court or government entity requiring the bond 3. The Surety — the bail bond company (us) that guarantees the defendant's appearance When you cannot afford the full bail amount set by the court, a surety bond allows a licensed bail bondsman to post the full bail on your behalf in exchange for a non-refundable premium