Proof of Loss
Also called: sworn proof of loss, sworn statement in proof of loss, POL, proof of loss form
Homeland Public Adjusters · Last reviewed: October 2026
A proof of loss is a sworn, signed statement from the policyholder setting out the date and cause of the loss, the property involved, the interest of the insured and others, other insurance, and the amount claimed. Most policies require it within 60 days of the insurer’s request; the National Flood Insurance Program requires it within 60 days of the date of loss. It is a claim condition, and missing it is a defense carriers use.
Full guide: Florida and New Jersey Property Insurance Claim Deadlines
What the form asks for
- Date, time and cause of loss, and the policy number and period.
- Who owned the property and whether anyone else (a mortgagee, a tenant, a co-owner) has an interest.
- Any other insurance that might apply.
- Changes in title, occupancy or use since the policy was issued.
- The amount claimed, usually broken into building, contents and additional living expense, and the supporting documents (estimate, inventory, receipts).
- A sworn signature, usually notarized.
When it is due
Homeowners and commercial policies. The standard condition says you must send a signed, sworn proof of loss within 60 days after the insurer’s request. Some Florida and surplus-lines forms require it within 60 days of the loss whether or not it is requested; read the Duties After Loss condition. NFIP flood. The Standard Flood Insurance Policy requires the proof of loss within 60 days after the date of loss, and FEMA treats the adjuster’s report as a courtesy, not a substitute. Extensions are sometimes granted after major storms; confirm in writing.
Florida
Florida’s claim timelines run from notice, not from the proof of loss: under §627.70131 the insurer must acknowledge the claim within 7 days and pay or deny within 60 days after notice. A proof of loss is still a policy condition, and a carrier may set the clock on the request. The §627.7142 Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights requires the insurer to tell you the timelines and your right to the estimate; nothing in it excuses a missed proof of loss, so treat the 60 days as hard. If you need more time to price the claim, ask for an extension in writing before the deadline and submit a partial proof with the amounts you can document, reserving the right to supplement.
New Jersey
Under N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.7, the insurer’s 30-calendar-day period to accept or deny a first-party claim runs from receipt of a “properly executed proof of loss.” A carrier can therefore sit on a claim until the proof is in; sending a complete, sworn proof early starts the regulatory clock. The policy’s own 60-day condition also applies.
How carriers use it against you
- Requesting the proof of loss early and then denying for a late or incomplete one.
- Treating the amount on the proof as a ceiling, so an undervalued proof caps the claim (it should be marked “partial” and “subject to supplement”).
- Rejecting a proof for a missing notarization or signature and restarting nothing.
- Using statements on the proof (cause, date, occupancy) against the claim later; every line should be accurate.
How to fill it out
Use the carrier’s form if it sends one. State the cause of loss in plain words that match the policy’s covered perils (“wind-driven rain through roof opening,” not “leak”). Attach the estimate and inventory and put the totals on the form. Write “partial proof of loss; amounts subject to supplement as repairs and inspection continue” above the signature. Keep the notarized original and send by a method that proves delivery. A public adjuster prepares and submits the proof as part of the claim; see public adjuster fees.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the proof of loss deadline?
Is the adjuster’s estimate a proof of loss?
Can I submit more than one proof of loss?
Does a proof of loss have to be notarized?
Related terms
The date of loss (DOL) is the date the damage occurred, which is the date the covered event happened, not the date you discovered it or reported it.
A supplemental claim is a claim for additional loss or damage from the same peril the insurer has already adjusted, or for costs incurred while repairing under an open claim.
Replacement cost value (RCV) is what it costs to repair or replace damaged property with new materials of like kind and quality today.
A policy exclusion is a provision that takes a cause of loss, a type of property, or a situation out of coverage that the insuring agreement would otherwise provide.
If this is your loss, call Homeland before you talk to the insurance company: Florida (305) 783-3777, New Jersey (732) 517-3777, 24 hours. A licensed public adjuster reviews the claim for free and calls you back right away. No Recovery, No Fee.
Sources
- FEMA: submit the flood insurance proof of loss within 60 days
- Section 627.70131, Florida Statutes
- N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.7
This article is for general information only and is not legal or insurance advice. Statutes, regulations and policy wording change, and how they apply depends on your own policy and the facts of your claim. Homeland Public Adjusters is a public adjusting firm, not a law firm.
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Yisel DieguezUpload the denial letter or the insurer’s estimate. A licensed public adjuster reads it and calls you back right away. Free.
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