The court must always give notice of the bond forfeiture to the defendant/principal.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not Required
• D. Only if the defendant is present

Answer: (B)

When a bond is forfeited, the essential idea is that the court uses forfeiture to address a failure to appear or comply with conditions, and the notice requirements are not the same in every jurisdiction. It isn’t guaranteed that the court must always notify the defendant. In some places the court will notify the surety (the bondsman) and may also notify the defendant, but there are common situations where no direct notice to the defendant is required or where notice may be waived or moot—for example if the defendant cannot be located, has fled, or is already in custody, or if the forfeiture becomes final after the allotted time to set it aside has passed. The practical purpose of notice is to give a party an opportunity to reinstate the bond or challenge the forfeiture, but that opportunity isn’t guaranteed in every case.