General FAQs

How long does my insurance carrier have to respond to my claim in Georgia?

All FAQs

Quick answer: Georgia regulations require your insurer to acknowledge your claim within 15 calendar days, and to approve or deny it within 60 calendar days after you submit all required documentation.

What is the legal timeline for an insurance carrier to respond to a claim in Georgia?

Georgia law requires your insurance carrier to respond to your claim within specific timeframes. The general rule is that the carrier has 15 days to acknowledge your claim and begin acting on it after receiving notice. After that, they must move the claim forward without unreasonable delay. These timelines exist to prevent carriers from holding claims open indefinitely while policyholders wait for resolution.

What happens step by step after you report a loss?

  • Acknowledgment: The carrier must acknowledge your claim and begin the process within approximately 15 days of receiving notice of the loss.
  • Investigation: The carrier must promptly investigate, which typically means assigning an adjuster and arranging an inspection within a reasonable period after the claim is opened.
  • Decision: After you submit the information they request, such as a proof of loss, the carrier is expected to accept or deny the claim within roughly 15 days, or explain in writing why more time is needed.

If the carrier needs additional time, Georgia rules require them to tell you why and to provide periodic updates. Unreasonable delay or a refusal to communicate can amount to bad faith conduct, which gives policyholders additional legal rights under Georgia law. To understand what bad faith means in practice, see what insurance bad faith means in Georgia.

What does the 15-day acknowledgment rule look like in practice?

For example, a homeowner in Columbus who reports storm damage to a roof on the 1st of the month should expect the carrier to acknowledge the claim and assign an adjuster by the 15th. The adjuster inspects the property within a couple of weeks, the homeowner provides documentation, and the carrier then issues a written decision. If the homeowner submits everything requested and still hears nothing for weeks with no written explanation, that pattern is worth documenting and pushing on formally.

For example, a Savannah renter who keeps a photo of their declarations page on their phone can provide their policy number and coverage details immediately when calling to report a theft, which starts the 15-day acknowledgment clock without any additional back-and-forth to locate the policy information.

What should you do if your claim is moving too slowly?

Keep a dated log of every call, email, and letter exchanged with the carrier. Submit requested documents promptly, because the investigation clock can reset while the carrier waits on missing documentation. If the carrier gives a repair estimate that seems too low, that is a separate but related issue addressed in what to do when the carrier’s estimate is too low. Filing quickly also matters: learn how waiting too long to file a claim can affect your rights and your payout under the policy.

What information should you have ready when filing a claim?

Know your policy number, the date and cause of the loss, and a rough description of the damage before you call. Your declarations page shows your coverage limits and deductible, both of which the carrier will reference early in the process. If your claim is dragging or you are not getting clear answers, a free coverage review can help you understand your rights and next steps under your homeowners insurance policy.