Glossary
Notice of claim
The report a policyholder must give an insurer about a loss, claim or lawsuit. The policy sets the timing, and late notice can put coverage at risk.
Also called: notice of loss, notice of occurrence, claim notice, late notice
Nearly every policy makes notice a condition of coverage. Under the ISO CG 00 01 general liability form, you must notify the insurer as soon as practicable of an occurrence or offense that may result in a claim, and when a claim is made or suit filed, send the demands, notices and summonses along immediately. The commercial property form, CP 00 10, requires prompt notice of a loss, and a sworn proof of loss within 60 days of the insurer's request.
How strictly courts enforce timing depends on the policy type and the state. On an occurrence policy, many states let an insurer deny for late notice only if the delay actually prejudiced it, while others enforce the requirement more strictly. On a claims-made policy, the claim must be made and reported within the policy period, or an extended reporting period, and courts usually hold insureds to that deadline without any showing of prejudice.
The practical rule is to report early and in writing. Notify when an incident could become a claim, even if nobody has demanded money, and forward a lawsuit the day it arrives, because answer deadlines are short. Send notice to the insurer itself, copying your broker; notice to a broker alone may not count. Defense costs you run up before the insurer has notice generally are not reimbursed, which is part of the duty to defend timing. The guide on notice of claim and late notice covers the details, and the business insurance claim checklist lists the first steps.
Last reviewed October 10, 2026