Can You Make a Home Insurance Claim Without Receipts?

In the event that you have property damaged or stolen due to a robbery or natural disaster, your homeowners insurance policy may cover replacement for some, or even all, of your lost property.

Receiving compensation for lost or stolen property will require you to file a claim with your insurance company, and you may even be required to provide proof of ownership of the items you claim to have lost.

It is recommended that you make copies of, and safely store, receipts for major purchases such as valuable electronics, appliances, and jewelry so that you can be compensated quickly in the event you file a homeowners insurance claim.

What happens if you no longer have receipts for major purchases, or you need to include smaller items in your claim that you wouldn’t generally keep a receipt for? There are additional ways you can prove ownership in a homeowners insurance claim, including:

Providing Photos of Lost Property

One of the most common ways to prove ownership of lost items you’re including in a homeowners insurance claim is with old photos and video footage. You may not keep receipts for everything you own, and even the receipts you do have will fade over time or could become damaged. It’s recommended that you take photos of all of the valuable personal property in your home, as photos are a simple way to show your insurance provider what needs to be replaced.

When filing an insurance claim without receipts, old photo albums and photos on your computer, your phone, and social media may find pictures that can prove ownership.

Locating Old Bank Statements

If you can’t find pictures proving ownership of high-value property, you may be able to establish ownership by going through your old credit card/bank statements. Providing a statement showing a line item purchase can help prove ownership. Fortunately, online banking makes it easier than ever to find and go through old statements. If you know roughly when you made a major purchase, this can help you narrow down your search.

Looking for Owner’s Manuals

You may have a drawer full of owner’s manuals and warranties for major appliances and electronics. Try to search for this paperwork for your lost property, as owner’s manuals showing the model number and product information is an easy way to establish ownership of lost items.

Looking Through Your Emails for Order Confirmations

If you don’t have physical receipts or warranty paperwork, you may be able to find proof of ownership for purchases by going through your emails. Go through your emails and search for specific keywords related to your purchases. Having an email history documenting your purchases makes it easy to prove ownership when filing an insurance claim.

An Experienced Attorney Can Help You File Your Claim

Filing a homeowners insurance claim and proving ownership of lost property is often complicated, as insurance companies don’t want to have to pay what policyholders are owed.

If you recently lost property as the result of a burglary or natural disaster and you are having a hard time getting compensated by your insurance provider, you may want to consider contacting an experienced attorney to help you seek the compensation you deserve. Contact the homeowners insurance claim attorneys at Insurance Claim HQ of Louisiana to help you file a claim today.

Common FAQs About Homeowners Insurance and Documentation