If the court requires you to be bonded to serve as personal representative, your attorney may send a bond request to your Client Portal. When they do, you will see a Surety Bond step on your portal dashboard and receive an email letting you know.
Through EstateMin's partnership with ViCoverage (powered by Vertical Insure), you can complete your application, review a personalized quote, and purchase your bond in one place. The bond amount has already been set by the court and entered by your attorney.
🛡️ What Is a Surety Bond?
A probate bond (also called a fiduciary or personal representative bond) is a type of surety bond. Courts often require one before a personal representative can manage an estate. It is a guarantee, backed by a surety company, that you will carry out your duties to the estate, and it protects the estate's beneficiaries and creditors.
Your attorney can explain why the court requires a bond in your case. For questions about the bond itself, contact ViCoverage (see below).
📋 Before You Start
⚠️ Complete your application in one sitting. Your progress will not be saved if you leave before purchasing your bond.
Have the following ready:
Your home address and date of birth.
Your Social Security number. This is used for a soft credit check to give you a quote. It does not affect your credit score.
The date the court appointed you, if you have it.
A payment card or bank account.
✏️ How to Complete Your Bond Application
Sign in to your Client Portal and click Start on the Surety Bond step.
Review the summary of your bond at the top of the page, including the Bond coverage amount and the Obtain bond by date from your attorney.
Click Go to application.
In Fiduciary Information, check your name, email address, and phone number, then enter your address, Birth Date, and SSN. Click Next.
In Bond Details, check the details your attorney has provided, such as the bond amount, case number, and court. Enter the Name of Deceased if it is blank and the Appointment Date. Check the Attorney Information and click Next.
In Additional Questions, answer each question Yes or No.
Tick the box to authorize ViCoverage and the bond carrier to run a soft credit inquiry, then click Get Quote.
💳 How to Review Your Quote and Purchase Your Bond
Review your quote. The premium is shown next to Accept coverage.
Select Accept coverage to continue, or Decline Coverage if you do not want to purchase it. Read the terms shown beneath your quote.
In Sign Indemnity Agreement, review the agreement, type your signature, and click Submit. A green checkmark appears once it is signed.
In Payment Details, enter your card details or choose to pay by bank.
Tick the box to acknowledge how your bond is billed. The court requires the bond to stay in place until your case closes, so it is billed annually to the payment method on file until then.
Click Purchase Coverage.
A Thank you for your purchase! message confirms your bond has been purchased.
📬 After You Purchase
Your bond page shows Bond purchased, along with your premium and policy number.
You will receive an email from ViCoverage with your bond documents.
Your bond documents are sent to your attorney automatically. You do not need to upload them to your portal.
The Surety Bond step on your dashboard shows a green checkmark. There is nothing else you need to do in this step.
💡 Good to Know
Most bonds can be quoted and purchased straight away. If yours needs a closer review, a member of the ViCoverage team will be in touch within one business day.
ViCoverage uses your Social Security number only for the soft credit check and does not store it.
To go back and change something before you get your quote, click Edit next to that section, or click Previous.
Buying your bond here is optional. If you would rather arrange a bond elsewhere, click I'll obtain my own bond and give the bond to your attorney.
When your case closes, send the court documents confirming closure to [email protected] so annual billing can stop. Your attorney can also do this for you.
To update or change your bond after purchase, use the ViCoverage bond update form.
🔗 Questions About Your Bond
For questions about your bond, your quote, coverage, or billing, contact ViCoverage:
For questions about the estate or why a bond is needed, contact your attorney.
💬 Need Help?
If you are having trouble using the portal, use the chat bubble in the lower-right corner of EstateMin or email [email protected] for support.