Washington trustee bonds.
We size, underwrite & quote it.

When the trust instrument or a court requires it, a trustee must give bond. It secures the faithful performance of the trustee’s fiduciary duties. The court sets the amount to protect the beneficiaries — and we underwrite it. A surety specialist reviews your file and returns a quote, usually within one business day.

Required when the trust calls for it or a court orders it under TEDRA (RCW 11.96A)
Amount is set by the court to protect the interests of the beneficiaries
Underwritten on the trustee’s file; collateral may apply to a large trust
Underwrittencourt sets the amountA-ratedA.M. Best carriers1 daytypical specialist reply
Trusted by industry leaders
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
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Triple Five
Georgetown
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
How it works

Built for the order requiring bond.

When a trust instrument requires a bond, or a court orders one to protect the beneficiaries, that bond gates the trustee’s authority to act. Here is the whole process:

TODAY · 10 MINUTES

Send us the file

Apply online with the trust provision or order requiring the bond, the trust’s value, and the trustee’s details. The value of the trust drives the penal sum.

WITHIN 1 BUSINESS DAY

A surety specialist underwrites it

A specialist reviews the file, a credit check, and any financials, then returns a quote. The amount is set by the court — underwriting decides approval and any collateral on a large trust.

ON APPROVAL

Execute & file

Once you bind, we issue the executed bond on the required form with the power of attorney attached, ready to file so the trustee can act with full authority.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

When a trustee must be bonded

A trustee holds and manages trust property for the beneficiaries. Washington doesn’t bond every trustee — but when the trust instrument requires it, or a court finds a bond is needed to protect the beneficiaries, the trustee must give bond.

The trustee bond secures the faithful performance of the trustee’s duties: investing prudently, accounting honestly, and distributing as the trust directs. If the trustee breaches those duties, the bond makes the beneficiaries whole and the surety looks to the trustee to repay it.

Because the surety stands behind the trust, the bond is underwritten on the trustee’s credit and finances, and a large trust can require collateral. A court acting under TEDRA (chapter 11.96A RCW) has plenary power over trust matters, and under RCW 48.28.020 the reasonable premium paid to an authorized surety insurer is allowed as a lawful expense. We tell you what your file needs before you commit.

Washington StatuteWashington’s trust chapter, chapter 11.98 RCW (“Trusts”), does not impose a blanket bond requirement on trustees; a trustee bond is required when the terms of the trust call for one or when a court orders one to protect the interests of the beneficiaries. The Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA), chapter 11.96A RCW, gives the superior court plenary power and original jurisdiction over trust and estate matters; the chapter itself contains no trustee-bond section. Where a fiduciary bond is required, RCW 48.28.020 (fiduciary bonds—premium as lawful expense) allows the reasonable amount paid as premium to an authorized surety insurer to be allowed as a lawful expense.

You need this bond if you’re

A trustee a court has ordered to give bond to protect the beneficiaries
A successor trustee stepping in where the trust instrument requires bonding
An individual fiduciary administering a trust the court has directed be bonded
Counsel or a beneficiary arranging the bond so the trustee can administer the trust with full authority

The application takes about ten minutes.

These are the actual underwriting fields — the trust provision or order, the trust’s value, the trustee, and your finances. Submit once and a surety specialist returns a quote, typically within one business day. Free until your bond is issued.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

What is a Washington trustee bond?It is the bond a trustee gives to secure the faithful performance of fiduciary duties. Washington’s trust chapter (chapter 11.98 RCW) doesn’t bond every trustee — it is required when the terms of the trust call for it or a court orders one, including under TEDRA (chapter 11.96A RCW), to protect the beneficiaries.
How much does it cost?It is underwritten, not flat-rated. The court sets the penal sum, sized to protect the beneficiaries. A surety specialist then reviews the trustee’s credit and finances and any collateral and returns a premium quote, usually within one business day.
Do all Washington trustees need a bond?No. Chapter 11.98 RCW does not impose a blanket bond requirement. A bond is required only when the terms of the trust call for one or a court orders one to protect the beneficiaries — for example in a TEDRA proceeding under chapter 11.96A RCW, where the court has plenary power over trust matters.
Will I need collateral?Sometimes, especially on a large trust. Because the surety guarantees the trustee’s performance, a high penal sum may require collateral and financials. We tell you what your specific file needs before you commit.
How fast can the bond be issued?A specialist typically returns a quote within one business day of a complete application. Once you bind and any collateral is in place, the executed bond issues on the required form, ready to file so the trustee can act with full authority.
Related bonds

Other Washington bonds.

Get bonded and administer the trust.

Send us the order or trust provision and the trust’s value, and a surety specialist sizes, underwrites, and quotes the bond — typically within one business day. Free until your bond is issued.

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