Legal Document Assistant Bond (LDA Bond)
What is a legal document assistant bond?
Individuals in certain states may be allowed to offer legal assistance without a law degree. To do so, they must become licensed and bonded with the state.
A legal document assistant bond, or LDA bond, protects clients receiving legal assistance. It guarantees that a legal document assistant will follow state and local laws and regulations for their industry. If the LDA fails to act in a client’s best interest, the client can file a claim against the surety bond.
What do legal document assistants do?
A legal document assistant (LDA) is a non-lawyer with the legal right to prepare legal documents for clients who wish to represent themselves in legal matters. LDAs may only perform certain services. For example, they may prepare legal documents but cannot offer legal advice.
Get Your LDA Bond:
Quick Takeaways
- Individuals in certain states may be allowed to offer legal assistance without a law degree by becoming licensed and bonded with the state.
- These bonds are often required in California.
- A legal document assistant (LDA) is a non-lawyer with the legal right to prepare legal documents for clients who wish to represent themselves in legal matters.
- In Nevada and California, the minimum bond limit is $25,000.
Who needs an LDA bond?
If you plan to work as a legal document assistant – or offer any kind of legal assistance – you may need this bond. LDA bonds are commonly required in California. If you will be responsible for providing, preparing, or filing legal documents on your clients’ behalf, you will likely need to get bonded first.
How do I become a registered and bonded legal document assistant?
The registration and bonding process may vary based on where you live. Here’s an outline of how the process works in the State of California:
- Register with the county (or counties) in which you will work.
- Post a $25,000 surety bond.
- Meet at least one of the following requirements:
- High school diploma or GED + two years of experience working under a licensed attorney
- Bachelor’s degree in any field + one year of experience working under an attorney
- Completion certificate of a paralegal program (approved by the American Bar Association)
- Completion certificate of 24 semester units of an accredited (institutionally accredited but not approved by the ABA) program in legal specialization courses
How much does a legal assistant bond cost?
You will pay a fraction of the bond amount required to obtain your bond. In both Nevada and California, the minimum bond limit is $25,000. Generally, the better your credit score, the lower your premium rate. If you have excellent credit and your surety provider quotes you at a 2% rate, your premium would be $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a bond with bad credit?
If you have a low credit score, you may still be able to get bonded! Typically, those with lower credit scores must pay higher bond premiums. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at (888) 435-4191 to speak with one of our agents.
How do I get an LDA bond?
Our application process for LDA bonds is simple and quick. We’ll ask for basic contact information, business information, and credit and financial data. Once your application is approved, you can pay for and print your surety bond.
Apply for Your LDA Bond Today
ZipBonds offers the fastest and most secure option for getting the surety bonds you need. Our all-digital platform is intuitive and straightforward. Apply online or call us at (888) 435-4191 to speak with an agent. We’ll help you get bonded in a zip!
About ZipBonds.com
Founders Ryan Swalve and Zach Mefferd formed the vision for ZipBonds.com when they realized how overly complicated it was to help clients place surety. The frustration of being unable to incorporate the technology they’d used in other insurance-focused projects left them thinking “there has to be a better way.”
Fast forward a couple of years, and that better way is the impetus of everything we do at ZipBonds. We constantly look for innovative ways to improve the bonding process for our clients and agents. Our team comprises individuals who understand all angles of surety – for companies, agencies, and individuals. Incorporating everyone’s point of view to improve the process while simultaneously integrating cutting-edge technology is what sets our business apart.