GUIDE 13 · Manage the claim · California / Colorado research starting points
Notify the insurer through a documented channel, protect people and prevent additional damage when safe. Keep temporary work and permanent reconstruction decisions separate. Ask for required forms and instructions. A proof of loss may be a sworn contractual document with consequences; distinguish it from an informal estimate or inventory. Seek written extensions when needed and retain delivery evidence.
Gather these records
Notice confirmation; emergency invoices; photos before repairs; proof forms; extension letters.
Put the question in writing
Please confirm the required proof, supporting documents and deadlines, and respond in writing to this extension request.
California authorities and application
Insurance Code §2051.5(b)(3) — For an emergency-related loss, proof of loss cannot be required earlier than 100 days after loss; qualifying good-cause delays support additional three-month extensions.
Scope: Emergency-related losses within the statute; retain the extension request and evidence.
Insurance Code §2071(a), “Requirements in case loss occurs,” “Appraisal,” and “Suit” — The standard form addresses notice, preservation, proofs, claim-related documents, appraisal and suit conditions. Requested claim-related valuation documents generally must be supplied within 15 calendar days, with listed privilege/fraud exclusions.
Scope: Apply the issued policy and applicable statutes together. Disaster appraisal may be requested but not compelled. The form states 12 months to sue, extended to 24 for emergency-related losses; accrual, tolling and other doctrines require separate analysis.
10 CCR §2695.5(b), (e)–(f) — The rule generally requires a complete response to expected-response claim communications within 15 calendar days and acknowledgment/forms/investigation within 15 days after notice, subject to stated legal-action exceptions.
Scope: Communication deadlines are not guarantees that the entire claim must be paid within 15 days.
Colorado authorities and application
3 CCR 702-5, Regulation 5-1-14 §§3, 4(A)(1)–(8), 4(B)(3)–(5), 7–8 — The regulation creates a conditional 60-day decision/payment framework after a valid and complete claim. It addresses policy compliance, reasonable disputes, good-faith offers, evidence burdens and catastrophe deviations, plus continuing investigation notices.
Scope: Not 60 days from every first notice of loss. Section 4 defines completion/dispute conditions. Administrative penalties are not an automatic private award.
C.R.S. §10-4-110.8(11), (14)(a)–(c) — For a furnished owner-occupied primary-residence total contents loss, the insurer must offer at least 30% without an inventory. Qualifying declared-wildfire total contents losses receive an offer of at least 65%. Inventory and depreciation periods have distinct triggers.
Scope: Subsection (11)(c)(I): at least 365 days after the total-loss claim for inventory; (11)(c)(II): at least 365 days after ALE expiration to replace property for recoverable depreciation. Additional wildfire rules may be more protective.
Source text checked October 21, 2026. Citations link to the issuer’s text or official regulatory publisher. The linked edition and loss/policy dates must be matched; this is a source verification, not a case-specific legal opinion.
Continue with the related issue
07 · Water damage, leaks and mold
09 · Personal property and inventories
20 · Deadlines and preserving rights
All 23 guides · Claim record templates
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.