The insurance proof of loss form should be commissioned / notarized by a notary public since you must declare on oath that the statements contained in the proof of Loss form are true. All-Canada Notary can help you draft and commission the form in-person and remotely.
Have you ever suffered a loss of property or an unfortunate accident, perhaps? What if there is a way you’d have had all the losses you incurred taken care of? Mitigating your losses or replacing the damaged property is one of the aims of owning an insurance policy and if you already have one this post is definitely for you.
After the damage to your insured property, there are a few steps you need to take towards recovering your loss. The obvious first step is to make a formal complaint to your insurance company as soon as possible. Thence, your insurance company will provide you with a Proof of Loss Form to complete. What then is the proof of loss form and what possible information would you be required to complete?
What is an insurance proof of loss form?
As the name implies, an insurance proof of loss form is a document wherein you, a policyholder, disclose the insured property loss or damage. This is usually done by filling out the required information in the proof of loss form. The essence of the proof of loss form is that save from initiating the insurance claim process, it also helps you to authenticate the value of the insured property and further allows you to state-specific information about the circumstances culminating in the loss.
What information is required to complete the form?
The necessary information required to complete a proof of loss form includes but is not limited to the following:
- Insurance cover at the time of the loss;
- Date and cause of the loss;
- List of damaged or lost items;
- The current replacement worth or value of the item destroyed
In addition to the foregoing, you should attach some important documents to support your insurance claim to wit: a photocopy of your insurance policy; documents that support the value of the property (receipts, inventory, reports, certificates); and pictures of the damaged item(s).
It is worthy of mention that every insurance company provides its distinct proof of loss form that is used to document damaged or destroyed items.
Should the proof of loss form be notarized?
You must declare on oath that the statements contained in the proof of Loss form are true, and the form should be commissioned by a notary public in order to be accepted by your insurance company. If any of the statements are false, your insurance claim may be annulled.
Things to remember whilst filling out the form
- Period within which to fill the proof of loss form: the insurance policy usually states the time within which to fill and submit the proof of loss form after the damage has occurred. Failure to file within the prescribed period may lead to denial of the claim.
- Correctly and candidly fill the form: if you do not fill the form accurately or are misrepresented, it may lead to underpayment, delay, or worse, denial of the claim.
What happens after the submission of the completed proof of loss form?
Upon completion and submission of the proof of loss form, your insurance company will:
- Review your document
- Accept or reject your claim for items contained on the form.
- Determine the total value for your loss and contact you.
- You will have a chance to consider the payment amount your insurer is proposing.
- If the proof of loss form is accepted, your payment, less any applicable deductible, will be processed.
How can All-Canada Notary help?
All-Canada Notary can help you notarize your proof of loss form. And the interesting part is that All-Canada Notary operates physical and virtual/online notary services, so you may not need to undergo the rigors of physical notarization when you can get it done in the comfort of your home or office.
