2023 Delaware Code › Title 18 - Insurance Code › Chapter 43. SURETY INSURANCE CONTRACTS › Subchapter II. Bail Bond Agents › § 4347. Collections and charges permitted.

§ 4347. Collections and charges permitted.
(a) Surety bail bond rates are subject to the provisions of Chapter 25 of this title.
(b) It is unlawful for a bail agent to execute a bail bond without charging and collecting a premium or other charge therefor, and the premium rate or other charge may not exceed or be less than the premium rate as filed with and approved by the Department. With regard to any surety bail bond in excess of $1,000, the total filed premium for a surety bail bond shall be at least 5% and not more than 10%. It shall be unlawful for a bail agent to post a surety bail bond without first charging and receiving at least 5% of the surety bail bond amount, and entering into a written contract signed by the parties containing all terms and conditions of the bond.
(c) It is unlawful for any surety bail agent to charge any administrative fee, service charge, company or agent fee or the like not filed and approved pursuant to Chapter 25 of this title.
(d) The bond may contain provisions to reimburse the bail agent personally, or permit the bail agent to have a right of action against the defendant or any indemnitor, for actual expenses incurred in good faith, by reason of misrepresentation, fraud or breach by the defendant or any indemnitor of any of the terms of the written agreement under which and pursuant to which the undertaking of bail or bail bond was written. If there is no written agreement, or an incomplete writing, the bail agent may seek enforcement of such legal or equitable rights against the defendant and any of the defendant's indemnitors as may be permitted by law. Such reimbursement or right of action may not exceed the principal sum of the bond or undertaking, plus any reasonable expenses that may be verified by receipt in a total amount of not more than the principal sum of the bond or undertaking, incurred in good faith by the bail agent, its agents, licensees and employees by reason of the defendant's or indemnitor's breach.
(e) Property bail agents, in addition to the requirements set forth in this section, shall not be permitted to issue a bond without first obtaining the approval of their charge or commission schedule from the Department. Likewise, any change or modification to the approved charge or commission shall be submitted to the Department for approval prior to any use thereof. Property bail agents shall be required to maintain a written disclosure statement approved by the Department, of their approved charges or commissions and shall provide a copy of said written disclosure to every prospective client prior to accepting the payment for the bond from the prospective client. It shall be unlawful for any property bail agent to charge any administrative fee, service charge, company or agent fee or the like not filed and approved by the Commissioner.
(f) The total charges or commissions for a cash bail may not be less than 20% or more than 30% of the bail amount posted by the property bail agent. It shall be unlawful for a property bail agent to post a bail without first charging and receiving at least 20% of the cash bail amount, and entering into a written contract signed by the parties containing all terms and conditions of the bond.
(g) All written contracts and other documents related to a bail bond or cash bail shall be maintained by the bail agent in accordance with the record keeping requirements in § 4341 of this title.
76 Del. Laws, c. 394, §  2;  79 Del. Laws, c. 177, §  1;