Surety bonds are a type of financial guarantee that one party (the surety) makes to another party (the obligee) to ensure that a third party (the principal) will fulfill its obligations under a contract or other agreement.

If the principal fails to fulfill its obligations, the surety will step in and provide financial compensation to the obligee. The surety will then seek reimbursement from the principal for the amount it paid out.

For example, if a contractor is hired to complete a construction project, the contractor may be required to obtain a surety bond to guarantee that they will complete the project as specified in the contract. If the contractor fails to complete the project or does not fulfill their obligations, the surety will step in and provide compensation to the project owner (the obligee) to cover the costs of hiring a new contractor to complete the project.

In order to obtain a surety bond, the principal must typically undergo a thorough evaluation by the surety to determine their financial strength and ability to fulfill their obligations. The principal may also be required to provide collateral to the surety as a guarantee.

Overall, surety bonds provide an important form of financial protection and assurance for parties involved in contracts and other agreements.