Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-11-317 (2026)
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✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) In addition to any other qualifications required by law, the petition or license application for a person seeking to become a professional bondsman shall have attached to it an affidavit setting forth the criminal history, if any, of the petitioner or applicant. If the affidavit is found to be inaccurate, the petitioner or applicant shall be immediately disqualified as a professional bonding person. In addition, the applicant or petitioner shall submit to a criminal history background check by the Tennessee bureau of investigation as provided for under § 38-6-109 and shall be responsible for any fees for the criminal history background check. The results of the criminal background check shall be submitted by the Tennessee bureau of investigation to the clerks of the court responsible for regulating the activities of the professional bondsman.
- (b) Any applicant for approval as a bonding company owner shall have had two (2) years' experience writing bail in this state as a full-time qualified agent for a Tennessee professional bonding company in good standing.
- (c) If a court finds that a bondsman has individually or as a corporation owner been discharged in a bankruptcy proceeding leaving unsatisfied outstanding forfeitures with any court, then the court may order that the bondsman be prohibited from executing bonds, bail or other undertakings as surety in the court.
Acts 1998, ch. 663, § 1; 2006, ch. 816, § 1; 2012 , ch. 841, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases, 2010–2013 · leading case: Debbie Bakir v. Steven Brent Massengale, Individually & d/b/a Massengale Bonding Co. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010).
Debbie Bakir v. Steven Brent Massengale, Individually & d/b/a Massengale Bonding Co. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). “The Court also found that Massengale and the District Attorney General testified that it would not be possible for the partnership to exist pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §40-11-317 , and that the statute required a bonding company owner to have two years’ experience, which Mr.”
In Re: A Way Out Bonding (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-11-317 (c). To that end, the 22nd Judicial District’s Rules Regarding Professional Bail Bondsmen do not conflict with a substantive rule of law.”
In Re: Cumberland Bail Bonding Co. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “§ 40-11-317(c). We note that “a trial court has the inherent power to administer its affairs, including the right to impose reasonable regulations regarding the making of bonds.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-11-317(c): 1 case
In Re: Cumberland Bail Bonding Co. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “§ 40-11-317(c). We note that “a trial court has the inherent power to administer its affairs, including the right to impose reasonable regulations regarding the making of bonds.”
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