Insurance claim deadlines by state

How long a home insurer has to acknowledge a property claim, accept or deny it and pay, under each state's insurance rules.

Updated October 15, 202690 official sources

On this page3 sections

1What the deadlines usually cover
2The deadlines in each state
3States with no general deadline in days

Most states set deadlines for how quickly an insurer has to respond to a claim, decide it and pay. The clock usually starts when the insurer gets notice of the claim or your proof of loss, the forms and documents that prove the claim. Many states let the insurer take longer if it tells you in writing why it needs more time. Here's what each state's rules say.

What the deadlines usually cover

Acknowledging the claim. Many states give the insurer a set number of days to confirm it got your claim.
Accepting or denying it. This deadline usually runs from when the insurer has your proof of loss.
Paying. Once the claim is accepted, or the amount is agreed, many states set a deadline to pay.

Some states count working or business days and some count calendar days, so the table keeps each state's own wording. Your policy may set its own times, and a few states allow longer after a declared catastrophe: in Texas, for example, the deadlines can stretch by 15 days after a declared weather catastrophe.¹

The deadlines in each state

State	What the state's rules say
Alabama	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, say whether it's accepted or denied within 30 days of proof of loss, and pay within 30 days of accepting it and agreeing on the amount, unless the policy sets other times.^2-3
Alaska	Insurers must acknowledge a claim in writing within 10 working days, accept or deny it within 15 working days of proof of loss, and pay the undisputed part within 30 working days of proof of loss.⁴
Arizona	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 working days and accept or deny it within 15 working days of proof of loss, and a claim not paid within 30 days of an acceptable proof of loss carries interest.^5-6
Arkansas	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 working days, accept or deny it within 15 working days of proof of loss, and send payment within 10 working days once the claim is processed and ready for payment.⁷
California	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 calendar days, accept or deny it within 40 calendar days of proof of claim, and pay within 30 calendar days of accepting it.^8-10
Colorado	Insurers must decide or pay a claim within 60 days of receiving a valid and complete claim, unless there's a reasonable dispute.¹¹
Delaware	Insurers must acknowledge and respond to claim communications within 15 working days, start investigating within 10 working days of the notice of loss, and affirm or deny the claim within 30 days of proof of loss.^12-13
Florida	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 7 calendar days, begin investigating within 7 days of proof of loss, and pay or deny the claim within 60 days of notice of it.¹⁴
Hawaii	Insurers must respond to claim communications within 15 working days, explain in writing any delay once a claim is 30 days old, and offer payment within 30 calendar days of accepting liability when the amount isn't in dispute.¹⁵
Illinois	Insurers must respond to claim communications within 15 working days and offer payment within 30 days of accepting a claim when the amount isn't in dispute. A home claim still open after 75 days, or 25 days after proof of loss if that's sooner, needs a written explanation of the delay.^16-18
Iowa	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, accept or deny it within 30 days of proof of loss, and pay within 30 days of accepting it.¹⁹
Kansas	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 working days, finish investigating within 30 days, and accept or deny it within 15 working days of proof of loss.^20-21
Kentucky	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days and offer any payment due within 30 calendar days of proof of loss, or explain within those 30 days why they need more time.²²
Louisiana	Insurers must start adjusting a property claim within 14 days of notice (30 days after a catastrophic loss) and pay what's owed within 30 days of satisfactory proof of loss (60 days for a catastrophic loss to a home).^23-24
Maine	A claim is payable within 30 days after proof of loss and agreement on the amount.^25-27
Maryland	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 working days and affirm or deny it within 15 working days of receiving the claim forms or proof of loss, with a written update every 45 days if the investigation runs longer.^28-29
Michigan	Insurers must tell you in writing what proof of loss they need within 30 days of receiving a claim, and a claim paid more than 60 days after proof of loss earns 12% interest.³⁰
Minnesota	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 business days, accept or deny it within 30 business days of being notified, and pay an agreed settlement within 5 business days.³¹
Missouri	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 working days, finish investigating within 30 days, and accept or deny it within 15 working days after you submit the forms needed to prove the claim.³²
Montana	Insurers must pay or deny a claim within 30 days of receiving proof of loss, or within 60 days if they reasonably ask for more information, unless they've told the insured in writing why the claim isn't paid in full. Late payments carry 10% a year in interest.^33-34
Nebraska	For property and casualty claims, insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 working days and accept or deny it within 15 working days of receiving proof of loss, or say why they need more time and write again every 30 days. Undisputed amounts must be offered within 15 working days and paid within 15 working days of the claimant's acceptance.^35-36
Nevada	Insurers must acknowledge a claim and start investigating within 20 working days, and finish investigating within 30 days where they reasonably can. They must accept or deny a first-party claim within 30 working days of receiving proof of loss, or say why they need more time and write again every 30 days. Accepted claims must be paid within 30 days, with interest after that.^37-38
New Hampshire	For property and casualty claims, insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 working days and make a complete decision within 30 days of notice, or send a letter giving the reasons for delay and another every 30 days. They must pay within 5 working days of agreement or of receiving the documents they asked for.³⁹
New Jersey	Insurers must acknowledge a claim and start investigating within 10 working days. For first-party property claims they have 30 calendar days from proof of loss to pay, or must say in writing why they need more time and write again every 45 days. Agreed settlements must be paid within 10 working days.^40-41
New York	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 business days. They must accept or reject it within 15 business days of receiving the proof of loss and requested items, or say why they need more time and write again every 90 days. They must pay within 5 business days of an agreed settlement. The decision window is 30 business days where arson is suspected.^42-44
Ohio	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days and accept or deny it within 21 days of receiving proof of loss, or say why they need more time and write again at least every 45 days. They must pay a first-party claimant within 10 days of accepting a claim whose amount isn't in dispute.⁴⁵
Oklahoma	Property and casualty insurers must acknowledge a claim within 30 days of notice unless they pay within that time. They must accept or deny within 60 days of receiving proof of loss, or say why they need more time, and an investigation can't run past 120 days from proof of loss except in supported fraud or arson cases. Separately, an insurer must make a written offer of settlement or rejection within 60 days of receiving proof of loss.⁴⁶
Oregon	Insurers must acknowledge or pay a claim within 30 days of notice and finish investigating within 45 days unless that can't reasonably be done. They must accept or deny within 30 days of receiving proof of loss, or say why they need more time and write again every 45 days.^47-48
Pennsylvania	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 working days of notice unless they pay within that time, and finish investigating within 30 days or explain the delay in writing every 45 days. They must accept or deny within 15 working days of receiving proof of loss, or say within that time why they need more, then write 30 days later and every 45 days after that.^49-51
Rhode Island	Insurers must acknowledge a property or casualty claim in writing within 15 days unless they pay within that time. They must accept or deny within 21 days of receiving proof of loss, or say why they need more time and write again every 45 days. Undisputed amounts must be paid within 30 days of affirming liability.⁵²
South Dakota	Insurers must acknowledge and act on communications about a claim within 30 days.^53-54
Tennessee	Property and casualty insurers must acknowledge a claim within 30 days and accept or deny it within 60 days of receiving completed proofs of loss, or say why they need more time and write again every 60 days. They must pay within 30 days of affirming liability when the amount isn't in dispute.^55-56
Texas	Insurers must acknowledge a claim, start investigating and ask for what they need within 15 days of notice. They must accept or reject it in writing within 15 business days of receiving everything needed for proof of loss, or within 45 more days if they say why. They must pay within 5 business days of telling the claimant they'll pay.¹
Utah	Property and casualty insurers must acknowledge a notice of loss within 15 days and accept or deny within 30 days of a complete proof of loss, or say why they need more time and write again every 45 days. They must pay within 30 days of receiving written proof of a covered loss and its amount.^57-58
Vermont	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 business days and accept or deny within 15 business days of receiving proofs of loss, or say within that time why they need more. They must mail payment within 10 business days of agreeing a settlement.^59-60
Virginia	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 calendar days and accept or deny it within 15 calendar days of receiving proof of loss, or say within that time why they need more. While the investigation stays open, they must write within 45 calendar days of the claim and every 45 days after that.^61-64
Washington	Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 working days, finish investigating within 30 days, and accept or deny within 15 working days of receiving completed proofs of loss, or say why they need more time. Starting October 18, 2026, the accept or deny deadline is 30 calendar days from notice of the claim, with written updates every 30 calendar days while it's open.^65-67
West Virginia	Insurers must acknowledge a claim and start investigating within 15 working days. They must deny it or make a written offer within 10 working days of finishing the investigation, and pay an agreed settlement within 15 working days. If they need more than 30 calendar days after proof of loss, they must say so in writing and write again every 45 calendar days.^68-70
Wisconsin	Insurers must pay a claim within 30 days of written notice of a covered loss and its amount, and overdue payments bear 7.5% simple interest. By rule, acting promptly means within 10 days of receiving a communication about a claim, unless another period applies.^71-72
Wyoming	Property and casualty insurers must accept or reject a claim, and pay it, within 45 days of receiving the claim and supporting bills.⁷³

States with no general deadline in days

In these states we found no general deadline in days for an insurer to acknowledge, decide or pay a home property claim. Some set a day count only for narrower cases, such as fire losses or declared catastrophes, or ask insurers to act within a reasonable time.

Connecticut⁷⁴
District of Columbia⁷⁵
Idaho^76-77
Indiana⁷⁸
Massachusetts^79-80
Mississippi⁸¹
New Mexico^82-84
North Carolina^85-87
North Dakota^88-89
South Carolina⁹⁰

We couldn't confirm Georgia's rule for home claims, so it isn't listed.

These are the rules as the state publishes them, not legal advice about a particular claim.

Claim rules from state insurance codes and regulations, checked October 2026.

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