§ 2809 Surety Obligation Limits

• •A surety (someone who promises to pay if another person doesn't) can't be asked to pay more than the main person who owes the money.
• •If the surety's promise is bigger or harder than the main person's promise, it gets reduced to match the main person's promise.
• •The surety's job is only as big as the main person's job.

Your friend borrows $100 from someone and you promise to pay it back if your friend doesn't. The agreement says you have to pay $150 if your friend can't.

The law says you only have to pay the same $100 your friend owes, not $150. Your promise gets reduced to match your friend's promise.