Who are the parties involved in a surety bond?

The correct answer identifies the three key parties involved in a surety bond: the principal, the obligee, and the surety.

In a surety bond, the principal is the party that requires the bond and is typically the one whose performance is guaranteed, such as a contractor completing a project. The obligee is the party that requires the bond as a form of protection against the principal's default or failure to fulfill their obligations—this could be a project owner or a government agency. The surety is the third party that backs the bond and guarantees that the principal will meet their obligations; if the principal defaults, the surety is responsible for fulfilling the duty or compensating the obligee.

This relationship is essential in ensuring that contractual obligations are met and provides financial security for the obligee, knowing that they have recourse in case the principal does not perform as required. The other choices do not accurately reflect the parties typically involved in a surety bond scenario and instead reference different relationships found in other financial contexts.