Before You File: Texas Property Insurance Claim Documentation Checklist
What to gather, photograph, request, and write down — before you pick up the phone.
Texas property insurance claims
Build the record first, then file.
A seven-part checklist you can tick off on screen or print.
- 7 parts
- Printable
- Call log included
Before you file: lock down the date of loss, get the whole policy, photograph and video everything, mitigate and keep every receipt, give notice the right way, and get a written, line-item estimate. The thing that decides most claims is not argument, but the record.
Before I practiced law, I spent years on the property side of insurance claims. I was previously licensed and worked as a public adjuster, roofing contractor, home inspector and contractor, and I inspected and estimated large residential and commercial properties with many buildings. I also served as an appraiser, an umpire and a retained witness in first-party insurance disputes. I never worked for an insurance company.
Today I'm an attorney licensed in Texas and Alabama. I'm also a Florida mediator, but I don't practice Florida law. Every case is different, and no result can be promised.
That is how I learned the thing that decides most claims: not argument, but the record. Build the record first, then file. This checklist is what I would want in hand before you pick up the phone.
The Texas Claim Documentation Checklist at a Glance
Seven parts, plus the deadlines. Tick each box as you finish it. The boxes print empty, so you can also work from paper.
Lock Down the Date of Loss
3 items
Get the Whole Policy
4 items
Give Notice the Right Way
5 items
Estimates and Repairs
4 items
What Not to Do
5 items
Deadlines
4 time limits
Lock Down the Date of Loss
Get the Whole Policy, Not Just the Declarations Page
Photograph and Video Everything
Mitigate — and Keep Every Receipt
Give Notice the Right Way
Running log: print it and fill it in
| Date | Time | Who you spoke with | What was said | What was promised | Deadline you were given |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Estimates and Repairs
What Not to Do
- Do not guess on a recorded statement; you may reschedule it and correct the transcript afterward.
- Do not sign a release, a “full and final” settlement, or a non-waiver you do not understand.
- Do not discard evidence — the old roofing material, the flooring, the failed water line.
- Do not let an unlicensed person negotiate your claim; Texas licenses public adjusters (Ins. Code ch. 4102).
- Do not let a deadline pass while you wait for the insurer to respond.
Deadlines Run Whether or Not the Insurer Is Cooperating
Deadlines run whether or not the insurer is cooperating. Your policy sets its own notice and suit deadlines.
- 4 years
In Texas the default period to sue on a policy is four years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051), though a policy may shorten it to no less than two years (§ 16.070).
- 2 years
Chapter 541, DTPA, and common-law bad faith claims are generally two-year claims.
- 61 days
Most property-damage suits against an insurer require written notice at least 61 days before filing (Tex. Ins. Code § 542A.003).
- 1 year
TWIA claims must be filed within one year of the damage (§ 2210.573(a)).
Want the details on written pre-suit notice? See Texas Chapter 542A pre-suit notice explained, or the Texas insurance claim timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Claim Documentation
What should I document before filing a Texas property insurance claim?
Build the record first, then file. Write down the date the damage happened, and separately the date you discovered it if those differ. Ask your insurer in writing for a complete certified copy of the policy, including the declarations page and every endorsement. Shoot in layers: a wide shot showing where you are, a medium shot, then close-ups with a tape measure, ruler, or coin in frame for scale. Take reasonable steps to stop further damage, and keep every invoice and contract for the emergency work, plus hotel, meal, and mileage receipts. Report the claim promptly, then confirm by email so the date is in writing.
What photos and video should I take of the damage?
Shoot in layers: a wide shot showing where you are, a medium shot, then close-ups with a tape measure, ruler, or coin in frame for scale. Keep the originals with their date and time data intact. Do not crop, filter, or send them through text-message compression. Back them up in two places. Do a slow video walkthrough and narrate what you see, room by room. Stay off the roof — hire someone insured to photograph it, or use a drone operator.
Which policy documents should I ask my insurer for?
Ask your insurer in writing for a complete certified copy of the policy, including the declarations page and every endorsement. Find your deductible — flat dollar amount or a percentage of the dwelling limit — and whether the policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value, and on what. Look for endorsements that change the deal: cosmetic damage exclusions, roof payment schedules, water and mold sublimits, ordinance or law coverage, and loss of use or additional living expense.
How should I give notice of a property insurance claim?
Report the claim promptly, then confirm by email so the date is in writing. State the date of loss, the cause, the address, the policy number, and the areas affected. Ask in writing for the claim number, the adjuster’s name, and a written list of what the insurer wants from you. After every call, send a short email: “Confirming our call today, you said …” Ask in writing for the insurer’s own estimate and any engineer or consultant report on your claim.
What should I keep in my claim log?
Keep one running log: date, time, who you spoke with, what was said, what was promised, and any deadline you were given. Save every letter, email, estimate, report, and photograph the insurer sends you.
What should a repair estimate include?
Get a written, line-item estimate with measurements from a licensed contractor, not a single-number bid. Check that it addresses tear-off, waste, disposal and dump fees, code-required upgrades, and general contractor overhead and profit where the job needs a general contractor. Be careful with contracts that assign your claim or your benefits, or that are “contingent on insurance approval.” If your policy pays replacement cost, keep final invoices and proof the work was finished — recoverable depreciation usually turns on it.
What should I not do after a property loss?
Do not guess on a recorded statement; you may reschedule it and correct the transcript afterward. Do not sign a release, a “full and final” settlement, or a non-waiver you do not understand. Do not discard evidence — the old roofing material, the flooring, the failed water line. Do not let a deadline pass while you wait for the insurer to respond. The full list is in the “What Not to Do” part of the checklist above.
How long do I have to sue my insurer in Texas?
Deadlines run whether or not the insurer is cooperating. Your policy sets its own notice and suit deadlines. In Texas the default period to sue on a policy is four years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051), though a policy may shorten it to no less than two years (§ 16.070). Chapter 541, DTPA, and common-law bad faith claims are generally two-year claims. Most property-damage suits against an insurer require written notice at least 61 days before filing (Tex. Ins. Code § 542A.003), and TWIA claims must be filed within one year of the damage (§ 2210.573(a)).
Is this checklist legal advice?
No. This guide is general information for Texas and Alabama residents, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and policy terms vary, and results depend on the facts of each case.
Can I print this checklist?
Yes. Use your browser’s print option and choose “Save as PDF.”
Is the initial consultation free?
Your initial consultation is free. Call (512) 352-9937 or email info@claimattorney.com.
Related Texas Insurance Claim Guides
Want a printable copy? Use your browser’s print option and choose “Save as PDF.”
Disclaimer. General information, not legal advice. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Responsible attorney: Michael P. Bowman, Austin, Texas. This guide is general information for Texas and Alabama residents. Deadlines and policy terms vary, and results depend on the facts of each case. Michael P. Bowman is licensed to practice law in Texas and Alabama only. The firm’s office is in Austin, Texas; the firm does not have a bona fide office in Alabama. Law Office of Michael P. Bowman PLLC, 7903 Entrada Cove, Austin, TX 78730. Questions? Call (512) 352-9937 or visit www.claimattorney.com.
