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Browse all 23 guides, or narrow the list by topic and keyword. Each guide keeps its existing policy and source notes.
01 · Read your policy and endorsements
A declarations page summarizes a contract; it does not contain all the coverage terms.
Read guide →02 · Dwelling limits and underinsurance
The amount owed on a mortgage and a home’s sale price are different questions from the cost to rebuild.
Read guide →03 · Replacement cost, actual cash value and depreciation
A replacement cost policy may involve an initial payment and a later request for withheld amounts.
Read guide →04 · Deductibles, exclusions and sublimits
A policy limit is not a promise to pay that amount for every loss.
Read guide →05 · Fire, wildfire, smoke and ash
Document the structure, contents and habitability questions separately.
Read guide →06 · Hail, wind and roof claims
Separate storm damage from age, deterioration and prior repairs with dated evidence and a qualified inspection.
Read guide →07 · Water damage, leaks and mold
Record where the water came from, when it was discovered and how the damage developed.
Read guide →08 · Flood, earthquake and separate policies
Identify every potentially relevant policy and the source of the physical damage.
Read guide →09 · Personal property and inventories
Build an inventory by room and item category.
Read guide →10 · Repair estimates, matching and supplements
Compare the insurer and contractor estimates line by line: quantities, labor, materials, tax, access, demolition and overhead.
Read guide →11 · Building codes, permits and debris removal
A permit requirement may add work to a repair scope without automatically establishing insurance coverage for it.
Read guide →12 · Additional living expenses and evacuation
Track the increase in necessary living costs caused by displacement, with receipts and a pre-loss baseline.
Read guide →13 · Notice, mitigation and proof of loss
Notify the insurer through a documented channel, protect people and prevent additional damage when safe.
Read guide →14 · Adjusters, contractors and public adjusters
Identify who employs each adjuster and what authority each professional has.
Read guide →15 · Statements, examinations and document requests
Determine whether a request is an informal interview, recorded statement, examination under oath or another policy obligation.
Read guide →16 · Mortgage lenders, checks and repair funds
Insurance entitlement and a lender’s control of repair funds are separate issues.
Read guide →17 · Appraisal, mediation and coverage disputes
Separate disagreements about price or amount from disputes about whether a policy covers the loss.
Read guide →18 · Delay, denial and bad faith
Build a chronology of what was requested, supplied, investigated, decided and paid.
Read guide →19 · Insurance department complaints
Prepare a concise issue statement, timeline, policy excerpts and key correspondence.
Read guide →20 · Deadlines and preserving rights
Create separate calendar entries for notice, proof of loss, inventory, replacement-cost recovery, appraisal, suit limitations and any statutory claim.
Read guide →21 · Finding legal and technical help
Match the unresolved problem to the needed expertise: coverage interpretation, construction scope, structural safety, contamination or valuation.
Read guide →22 · Condominiums, HOAs, rentals and liability
Map ownership, occupancy and responsibility before choosing a policy.
Read guide →23 · Cross-state and federal coverage issues
Record where the property is, where the contract was issued, where the insured lives and where proceedings might occur.
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Public-interest legal education. The policy, applicable law and facts control. This library does not create an attorney-client relationship or accept a claim for representation. Draft prepared October 21, 2026; final legal and editorial review pending.