Joint and several bonds
A joint and several bond is a surety bond, such as a performance or labour and material payment bond, in which two or more parties are each liable to the obligee for the full bonded amount. The joint and several wording is a drafting choice in the bond, not a statutory requirement.
How BC law treats it
No BC statute requires bonds to be joint and several; owners and public bodies require bonds by tender or contract. A surety's liability is capped at the penal sum of the bond, while a contractor's exposure above that comes from its contract and its indemnity agreement with the surety.
What it means for your business
Contractors should understand that signing a surety's indemnity agreement usually makes the company and often its owners personally liable to the surety.
Risks and common mistakes
Owners who personally sign the general indemnity agreement may lose personal assets if the surety pays a claim on the bond.
For the full explanation, see our entry on Joint and several liability.
General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.
