Section 4348 - Collateral; limitations on transfer of collateral; fiduciary capacity; requirements for receiving title to real property as collateral; written receipt for collateral(a) A bail agent may accept collateral or security in connection with a bail transaction if the collateral or security is reasonable in relation to the face amount of the bond. The bail agent shall not transfer the collateral or security to any person other than a bail agent licensed pursuant to this subchapter or to a surety insurer holding a valid certificate of authority issued by the Department. The collateral shall not be transported or otherwise removed from this State, except for a transfer directly into the custody of a surety insurer holding a valid certificate of authority issued by the Department.(b) Any person who receives the collateral: (1) Shall be deemed to hold the collateral in a fiduciary capacity to the same extent as a bail agent; and(2) Shall retain, return and otherwise possess the collateral in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.(c) The collateral or security shall be received by the bail agent in a fiduciary capacity, and, until such time as there is a default of appearance by the defendant and demand for a forfeiture of the bail, the collateral or security shall be kept separate and apart from any other funds or assets of the licensee. Any collateral or security received by the bail agent shall be returned to the person, or that person's assignee or designated representative, who deposited it with the bail agent as soon as the obligation which was secured by the collateral or security, is discharged and all fees owed to the bail agent have been paid. The bail agent or any surety insurer having custody of the collateral or security shall, immediately after the bail agent or surety insurer receives a request for return of the collateral or security from the person who deposited the collateral or security, determine whether the bail agent or surety insurer has received notice that the obligation is discharged. If the collateral or security is deposited to secure the obligation of a bond, it must be returned immediately after receipt of the request for return of the collateral or security and notice of the entry of any order by an authorized official by virtue of which liability under the bond is terminated or upon payment of all fees owed to the bail agent, whichever is later. A certified copy of the order from the court wherein the bail or undertaking was ordered exonerated shall be deemed prima facie evidence of exoneration or termination of liability.(d) When accepting real property as collateral for a bond, it shall be unlawful for a bail agent to require a transfer of title to the real property as a condition of issuing a bail bond. The bail agent may require the defendant, or anyone agreeing to post real property on the defendant's behalf, to provide such certifications as may be necessary to establish title and unencumbered value, at the defendant's expense, indemnitor, or other person agreeing to post real property on the defendant's behalf, together with the appropriate security documents that may be necessary to establish a lien interest in the real property by the bail agent. It shall be unlawful for the bail agent to provide, directly or indirectly, title or lien services to the defendant for a fee or to receive money or anything of value for a referral to an independent person or entity for such service.(e) When accepting personal property as collateral for a bond, a bail agent may not require a transfer of title to the personal property as a condition of issuing a bail bond. The bail agent may require the defendant, or anyone agreeing to post personal property on the defendant's behalf, at their expense, to provide such financing statements, motor vehicle titles with a lien stamp or the like that may be necessary to establish a lien interest in the personal property by the bail agent. It shall be unlawful for the bail agent to provide, directly or indirectly, title or lien services to the defendant for a fee or to receive money or anything of value for a referral to an independent person or entity for such service.(f) Upon release or exoneration of the bail obligation, the bail agent shall be required to provide such release documents as may be required to discharge any lien of record obtained under subsections (d) and (e) of this section above. The bail agent shall not charge any fee for such service but may require that the defendant, indemnitor, or other person agreeing to post real property on the defendant's behalf pay any direct costs of document preparation and filing fees.(g) If the amount of any collateral received in a bail transaction exceeds the amount of any bail forfeited by the defendant for whom the collateral was accepted, the bail agent or any surety insurer having custody of the collateral shall, immediately after the bail is forfeited, return to the person who deposited the collateral the amount by which the collateral exceeds the amount of the bail forfeited. Any collateral returned to a person pursuant to this subsection is subject to a claim for fees, if any, owed to the bail agent returning the collateral.(h) If a bail agent accepts collateral, that bail agent shall give a written numbered receipt for the collateral. The receipt must include in detail a full account of the collateral received and a copy thereof provided to the principal and any indemnitor, or person or persons pledging the collateral.(i) When collateral security in excess of $5,000 cash or its equivalent is received by a surety bail bond agent, the entire amount shall be immediately forwarded to the insurer. Such collateral security may be placed in an interest-bearing account to accrue to the benefit of the person giving the collateral security, and the bail bond agent or insurer may not make any pecuniary gain on the collateral security deposited. Any such account shall be in a depository office of a financial institution (located in this State). The insurer shall be liable for all collateral received. If the bail bond agent fails to return the collateral to the person or persons pledging the collateral within 20 days after final termination of liability on the bond, the surety shall be liable for the collateral and shall return the actual collateral to the person or persons pledging the collateral or, in the event that the surety cannot locate the collateral, the surety shall pay the person or persons pledging the collateral pursuant to the provisions of this section.(j) When collateral security in cash or its equivalent in any amount is received by a property bail bond agent, the entire amount shall be placed in a fiduciary account with any interest to accrue to the benefit of the person giving the collateral security, and the bail bond agent may not make any pecuniary gain on the collateral security deposited. Any such account shall be in a depository office of a financial institution located in this State.Amended by Laws 2013, ch. 177,s 1, eff. 1/1/2014. 76 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;