The Solicitor Surety Bond is the bond form that the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) requires with an application for a license as a solicitor. It is one of the documents behind a DC business license of this type: a principal and a surety bind themselves to the District, and the principal promises to deliver ordered goods or services or refund advance payments. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by DLCP at dlcp.dc.gov.
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What is Solicitor Surety Bond – Washington, DC?
The Solicitor Surety Bond is the bond form issued by the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) that a solicitor-license applicant completes with a surety, so the District is protected if the licensee fails to deliver goods or services it has taken orders for.
On the form, the principal (the business doing business in the District of Columbia, with its office address) and the surety are held and firmly bound to the District of Columbia in a penal sum stated on the form, in lawful money of the United States. The bond recites that the principal has applied to DLCP for a license as a solicitor for a license period ending on a date written in on the form, and that the statute requires the application to be accompanied by a bond that becomes operative if the license is granted.
The condition of the bond is stated in plain terms. The obligation is void if the principal complies in all respects with the Act of Congress approved July 1, 1932 (Public No. 237, 72nd Congress), and makes final delivery of the goods ordered, or the services to be performed, under the terms of the order, or refunds the advance payment on that order. Otherwise it stays in full force.
The form carries a Bond No. at the top and requires signatures from two witnesses, the licensee, an officer of the principal, and the surety's attorney-in-fact. It is a bond, not the license application itself.
Who needs to file Solicitor Surety Bond – Washington, DC?
Businesses and individuals applying to DLCP for a license as a solicitor in the District of Columbia use this bond, because the form states that the statute requires the license application to be accompanied by a bond.
The people who take part in completing it are:
- The principal (licensee): the business or person doing business in the District of Columbia that applied for the license. An officer signs for it: the form lists President, Owner or Partner, and the principal signature must be one of those officers.
- The surety: the company that stands behind the principal. It signs through an attorney-in-fact, who must attach a power of attorney to each bond.
- Two witnesses: the form is signed and sealed in the presence of two witnesses.
- The Secretary: the form has a line for the Secretary's attestation next to the corporate seal.
The form does not describe other uses, and it does not say which businesses count as solicitors. For eligibility questions, contact DLCP at the helpline printed on the form, 202.671.4500, or visit dlcp.dc.gov.
When to file Solicitor Surety Bond – Washington, DC
The Solicitor Surety Bond is due when you apply to DLCP for a solicitor license, because the form states that the application shall be accompanied by the bond. It becomes operative if the license is granted.
The bond is written for a specific license period: the form asks for the date on which that license period ends (line 12 and the year on line 13). No separate filing deadline or renewal cycle is printed on the form, so check with DLCP at 202.671.4500 or dlcp.dc.gov for the application timing that applies to you.
Have the surety, the witnesses and the officers available before you finish, since the signatures and the attached power of attorney are part of the bond.
Documents you need
- Power of attorney on behalf of the agent (attorney-in-fact) who signs for the surety; the form requires it to be attached to each bond.
- The application to DLCP for a license as a solicitor, which the bond must accompany according to the statute recited on the form.
How to fill out Solicitor Surety Bond – Washington, DC
Enter the Bond No.
At the top of the form, write the Bond No. in the space next to "Bond No.".
Name the principal and its office
Line 1: write the name of the business or person that is the principal. Line 2: enter the address of its offices in the District of Columbia.
Name the surety
Line 3: write the name of the surety company that stands behind the principal.
Fill in the date of sealing
Line 8: enter the day and month on which the bond is dated. Line 9: complete the year after "two thousand and".
Repeat the principal's name
Line 10 (the first WHEREAS clause): write the principal's name exactly as on line 1.
Enter the license period end date
Lines 12 and 13: write the date on which the license period ends and the year of that date.
Repeat the name in the condition clause
Lines 17 and 18 (NOW THEREFORE): write the principal's name again, consistent with the earlier lines.
Collect witness signatures
Lines 24 and 25: two witnesses sign in the presence of the signers. The form is signed and sealed in the presence of two witnesses.
Complete the licensee and officer lines
Line 26: enter the licensee's name. Line 27: the President, Owner or Partner signs. Line 28: one of those officers signs as principal, with the corporate seal where it applies.
Add the attestation and attorney-in-fact
Line 29: the Secretary signs the attestation. Line 30: the surety's attorney-in-fact signs and seals; attach the power of attorney for that agent.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that names match on every line, the dates are complete and every signature and seal is in place. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and attach the power of attorney before delivering the package as described under How to submit.
How to submit Solicitor Surety Bond – Washington, DC
The bond is submitted to the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) together with your application for a license as a solicitor. The form itself names no mailing address, portal or appointment process.
- With the license application: the bond text says the application must be accompanied by the bond, so it goes to DLCP in the same package as the application.
- Power of attorney: the form states that a power of attorney on behalf of the agent signing is required to be attached to each bond.
- Questions: DLCP lists its Helpline at 202.671.4500 and its website at dlcp.dc.gov. Ask DLCP there for where and how to deliver the package, and whether any fee applies to the license application.
Before sending, check that both witnesses have signed, that the officer's signature, the seal lines and the attorney-in-fact's signature are complete, and that the Bond No. is filled in. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the DLCP channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the bond without a power of attorney for the attorney-in-fact; the form requires one to be attached to each bond.
- Having fewer than two witnesses sign; the form is signed and sealed in the presence of TWO WITNESSES.
- Letting someone other than the President, Owner or Partner sign as principal; the principal signature must be one of those officers.
- Leaving the license period end date (line 12 and the year on line 13) blank or inconsistent with the license applied for.
- Writing different names for the principal on line 1, line 10 and line 17, instead of the same name each time.
- Skipping the corporate seal or the Secretary's attestation lines when the principal is a corporation.
- Submitting the bond on its own, apart from the solicitor license application it is meant to accompany.
- Omitting the surety's name on line 3 or leaving the Bond No. at the top empty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Solicitor Surety Bond?
It is the bond form that accompanies an application to the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) for a license as a solicitor. A principal and a surety bind themselves to the District, and the principal promises to deliver ordered goods or services or refund advance payments.
Is the Solicitor Surety Bond part of getting a DC business license?
It is part of one license type. The form states that an application for a license as a solicitor in the District must be accompanied by this bond. For other kinds of dc business license, ask DLCP at 202.671.4500 or dlcp.dc.gov.
Who has to sign the Solicitor Surety Bond?
Two witnesses, the licensee, a President, Owner or Partner as principal, the Secretary for the attestation, and the surety's attorney-in-fact. Seals go on the principal and attorney-in-fact lines. The agent's power of attorney must be attached to each bond.
Do I need to attach a power of attorney to the bond?
Yes. The form states that a power of attorney on behalf of the agent signing is required to be attached to each bond. The agent signing for the surety is the attorney-in-fact named on the last signature line.
What does the bond require the licensee to do?
The licensee must comply with the Act of Congress approved July 1, 1932 (Public No. 237, 72nd Congress), and make final delivery of ordered goods or services under the terms of the order. If the licensee fails to do so, the advance payment must be refunded; otherwise the bond stays in force.
Can I fill out the Solicitor Surety Bond online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is not connected to DLCP and does not file the bond; you deliver it with your solicitor license application through DLCP's channels.
Where do I send the Solicitor Surety Bond?
The form prints no address; the bond goes to DLCP with your solicitor license application. Call the DLCP Helpline at 202.671.4500 or visit dlcp.dc.gov to confirm where and how to deliver it.
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