All bonds that this chapter applies to shall have at least two and not more than 20 good and solvent sureties who shall be worth the amount of said bond, over and above their homestead, in case of county officers, all of whom must be permanent residents of the state and two of whom must also be residents of the county; provided, however, that a surety insurance company which has complied with all requirements to transact business in this state may be accepted as surety upon the bond of any person required by law to execute bonds, in lieu of any other surety or sureties, as provided in Code Section 45-4-6. When the approving court or officers do not know that a surety is worth the required amount, they shall not accept him unless he swears that his means are sufficient in amount, which swearing they shall record on the bond.