Step 1: Get the bond exonerated
Nothing moves until the case ends and the court exonerates the bond — at dismissal, acquittal, sentencing, or surrender under Penal Code §1300. Get the minute order showing exoneration from the clerk.
Step 2: Clear the account
- Pay any remaining premium balance.
- Settle documented recovery or court costs if there was a forfeiture.
- Ask for a written statement showing a zero balance.
Step 3: Record the release
- The agency (as beneficiary) signs a full reconveyance or a release of the recorded deed of trust.
- The document is notarized.
- It is recorded with the county recorder where the property sits — Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder or San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk.
- Pull a fresh title search or property profile to confirm the lien is gone.
If the agency will not release it
First, confirm the bond is actually exonerated and the balance is zero — most delays are one of those two. If both are true and the release still is not issued, send a written demand, then file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance. A quiet title action is the last resort and typically requires counsel.