This bond protects the public from any financial loss due to the negligence or misconduct by the Legal Document Preparer. This bond ensures the Legal Document Preparer will comply with NRS Chapter 240A. If a claim is made, this bond covers up to the bond amount in losses.
Effective July 1, 2017, The Nevada Secretary of State requires all persons who provide assistance in certain legal matters, for compensation, obtain a $50,000 Surety Bond and be registered with the Secretary of State. Assembly Bill 324 was enacted and expands the definition of a document preparation service to include assistance in preparing Federal or State Tax Returns.
Your final bond cost will depend on your credit score. The average cost is between 1% and 3% with good credit. Lower credit scores may bring a bond cost up to 9% of the bond amount.
Complete the below application and submit for a free quote. You can also download and complete the PDF application and email to apps@southcoastsurety.com or fax to 949.361.9926.
This bond may also be referred to as a Legal Document Assistant Bond, Tax Preparer Bond, Legal Document Preparer Bond, or Legal Doc/Tax Preparer Bond
A surety bond is a three-way agreement between a Principal (the Document Preparation Service), an Obligee (Nevada Secretary of State), and a surety company (the company backing the bond). A surety bond does not function like an insurance policy for the Principal; instead, it acts as a protective measure for the Obligee and the Nevada public. A surety bond is a guarantee that the Principal understands and agrees to comply with all rules, regulations, laws, and guidelines pertaining to their business, in this case as a Document Preparation Service. Per the Nevada Secretary of State, this bond provides:
(a) Indemnification to a client or any other person who is determined in an action or proceeding to have suffered damage as a result of:
(b) Payment to the Secretary of State for any civil penalty or award of attorney’s fees or costs of suit owing and unpaid by the registrant to the Secretary of State pursuant to this chapter.
The entirety of the bond requirements can be found in NRS 240A.190.
In lieu of this $50,000 surety bond, the Document Preparation Service may choose to deposit a $50,000 cash bond with the Secretary of State to function as the same form of protection for clients as the bond. A surety bond does not cost the Principal the full bond amount. The cost of this bond depends on credit score, but are generally between 1-3% of the bond's total amount. In certain circumstances, the cost could be upwards of 9%. Submit your application for a free quote.
In the event that the Principal violates the terms of their bond, a claim will be filed against it, at which point the surety will make payments to the damaged party, or Secretary of State. The Principal will then be obligated to repay all damages to the surety, including any associated fees or penalties. In addition to repayment, the surety may revoke the bond, at which point the Document Preparation Service must cease business operations until a new surety bond or cash bond are filed. It is important that you, your employees, representatives, and agents understand your terms very clearly to avoid any claims. A history of claims will complicate all future bond applications, as a claim is a mark against your "credit" in the bond market.
South Coast Surety has been proudly providing surety support to all fifty U.S. states for twenty years. Starting out as a small agency with a dream in San Clemente, California, we have steadily grown into one of the largest bond-only agencies in the nation. We write all commercial bonds and contract bonds for every American business and industry. Our greatest achievement is helping our clients grow their business alongside our own through coaching and obtaining larger bonding limits at the best rates. We work hard for our clients and take pride in bonding businesses that have been declined by our competitors.