Greetings from New Jersey:
I am the executor for an estate. I am writing regarding a request
I have made to the [former] homeowners insurance company of the decedent.
Decedent passed in Dec. 2006.
The homeowners insurance policy was not renewed October 2002 a little more than 1 month after a storm event in the area. There was an [approx] 5,000.00 claim for damages from the storm. About a month or two later the policy was cancelled with a short explanation of "conditions in the home". edit to add: I now find that there was also another storm damage claim the prior year [2001] and the claims history may have added to the decision to not renew the policy.
There is an underground oil tank [non-leaking and active] at the home. The home was in poor condition at the time that the adjuster was there and it was badly cluttered and filled with "stuff". Not "waste" or garbage, but lots and lots of "stuff" with clothing and paper in every room, basement, attic with some rooms not able to be entered into.
I have been in touch with the insurance company and have requested that they send me the adjusters, notes, photos and any other documentation that they have regarding the cancellation of the policy.
The reason for this is that this information may be helpfull in pursuing the estates claim for a reduction in the valuation of the house for inheritance tax purposes [a rather hefty 15% !!]
I had tried to get insurance for the house in 2005 and found that many companies would issue a policy as the original company would no longer insure it.
Another agency I went to would issue a policy but at almost triple the going rate.
I just got off the phone witth the insurance company and unlike when I made the initial request, they are hemming & hawing and letting me know that as the decedeent is no longer a customer and the fact that the issue was over 7 years ago, they want to now check with "legal" and another supervisor to see if there is any reason that they should grant me my request.
I am hoping that I can get some perspective here that will let me know what else I should be doing to get this information.
Oh....and the request was made via Fax & along with the request was a copy of the Letters Testamentary from the Surrogate Court which has granted me the authority to act on the behalff of the estate.
Thanks for this Forum and your interest.
RowZ
P.S. I receied a call back from the Ins. Co. [AAA] while I was writing this post and was told that they did all that they legally were required to do for the policyholder at the time and that they believe that there is nothing that the info will do to help in my situation.
So...so sad, too bad??
I am the executor for an estate. I am writing regarding a request
I have made to the [former] homeowners insurance company of the decedent.
Decedent passed in Dec. 2006.
The homeowners insurance policy was not renewed October 2002 a little more than 1 month after a storm event in the area. There was an [approx] 5,000.00 claim for damages from the storm. About a month or two later the policy was cancelled with a short explanation of "conditions in the home". edit to add: I now find that there was also another storm damage claim the prior year [2001] and the claims history may have added to the decision to not renew the policy.
There is an underground oil tank [non-leaking and active] at the home. The home was in poor condition at the time that the adjuster was there and it was badly cluttered and filled with "stuff". Not "waste" or garbage, but lots and lots of "stuff" with clothing and paper in every room, basement, attic with some rooms not able to be entered into.
I have been in touch with the insurance company and have requested that they send me the adjusters, notes, photos and any other documentation that they have regarding the cancellation of the policy.
The reason for this is that this information may be helpfull in pursuing the estates claim for a reduction in the valuation of the house for inheritance tax purposes [a rather hefty 15% !!]
I had tried to get insurance for the house in 2005 and found that many companies would issue a policy as the original company would no longer insure it.
Another agency I went to would issue a policy but at almost triple the going rate.
I just got off the phone witth the insurance company and unlike when I made the initial request, they are hemming & hawing and letting me know that as the decedeent is no longer a customer and the fact that the issue was over 7 years ago, they want to now check with "legal" and another supervisor to see if there is any reason that they should grant me my request.
I am hoping that I can get some perspective here that will let me know what else I should be doing to get this information.
Oh....and the request was made via Fax & along with the request was a copy of the Letters Testamentary from the Surrogate Court which has granted me the authority to act on the behalff of the estate.
Thanks for this Forum and your interest.
RowZ
P.S. I receied a call back from the Ins. Co. [AAA] while I was writing this post and was told that they did all that they legally were required to do for the policyholder at the time and that they believe that there is nothing that the info will do to help in my situation.
So...so sad, too bad??