Proof of loss is a signed, itemized statement you submit to your insurer after a claim, describing what was damaged or lost, when it happened, and the dollar amount you are claiming. Most carriers require it on their own form, often with supporting documents like photos, receipts, or repair estimates attached.
What does proof of loss actually do?
Submitting proof of loss is what triggers your insurer's duty to act. Once you send in a complete proof of loss, the insurer's claims-handling clock starts: it must investigate and either accept or deny the claim within the timeframe set by your policy and state law. Most states have adopted a version of the NAIC Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, which requires insurers to promptly investigate claims and to attempt in good faith to settle a claim once liability is reasonably clear. The same model act prohibits an unfair practice: an insurer cannot demand a formal proof of loss form and then separately require you to re-verify the same information again, since that duplication only delays payment without adding anything the insurer does not already have. Your policy tells you the exact deadline for submitting proof of loss and the form the insurer wants it in.
Example
A homeowner's kitchen catches fire and causes $18,000 in damage to cabinets, appliances, and flooring. The insurer opens a claim and sends a proof of loss form. The homeowner completes it, listing each damaged item, the date of the fire, and the replacement cost for each, then attaches photos and receipts or estimates supporting the amounts claimed. Submitting that signed, itemized form is what starts the insurer's clock to investigate and pay the claim, not the initial phone call reporting the fire.
When it applies
Proof of loss applies to first-party claims, meaning a claim you file against your own policy for your own loss (fire, theft, storm damage, and similar). It generally does not apply the same way to a third-party liability claim someone else files against your policy, since the insurer investigates that kind of claim directly. Some smaller, straightforward claims are settled based on the initial claim report and an adjuster's inspection without a separate formal proof of loss form; check your policy or ask your adjuster whether one is required for your claim.
Related terms
Related: claim, adjuster. See also: how long your carrier has to respond to a claim in Georgia, how long it takes to get paid after a claim is approved, and the full claims process.
Sources
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (Model Regulation MO-900-1), Section 4 (Unfair Claims Practices Defined), adopted in substantially similar form by most states. content.naic.org/sites/default/files/model-law-900.pdf, accessed 2026-07-25.