What is a supersedeas bond?

A supersedeas bond, also known as an appeal bond or stay bond, is a type of surety bond that is required in certain legal cases when a party wishes to appeal a court judgment. The bond serves as a guarantee that the party will comply with the court's decision if the appeal is unsuccessful.

Supersedeas bonds are typically required in cases where a party is, for example, seeking to delay enforcement of a judgment or stay execution of a judgment pending an appeal. The bond is meant to protect the opposing party from any potential financial harm that may result from the delay in enforcing the judgment.

The amount of the supersedeas bond is set by the court and is usually based on the amount of the judgment being appealed. The party appealing the judgment must pay a premium to a surety company in order to obtain the bond.

If the appeal is successful, the supersedeas bond is released and the party is not required to fulfill the judgment. However, if the appeal is unsuccessful, the bond may be forfeited and the party will be responsible for fulfilling the judgment.