June 15, 2015
Investigators can benefit from checklists, as well as adjusters and underwriters. When investigating a claim, it is important to review every detail and make sure nothing is overlooked. This checklist is designed to help in the investigation of arson claims; the items listed are required documents and who should be interviewed when arson is suspected.
Required Documents
______Ten-year ownership histories of the property—collect deeds from the insured or order from a title insurance company a title history with deeds attached.
______Ten-year history of mortgages and liens on the property
Copies of the following files from the local building department:
______permits
______citations
______inspection reports
______Utility records—including electrical, gas, and telephone bills—for the property for at least six months prior to the fire
______Change of address documents filed with the Postal Service
______All property tax filings and payment records
______Insurance records for the last five years
If it is a commercial property, collect the following documents:
______Secretary of state incorporation records and annual reports
______Sales tax filings
______Public records search regarding other properties owned by commercial business
______UCC filings
______Fictitious business name filings
______Commercial credit reports
______A list of vendors and suppliers of the business.
Interviews Should Be Conducted with the Following:
______The building occupant
______The building owner
______All persons who qualify as an insured.
______All insurance agents and brokers involved in the acquisition of the insurance
______All lien holders or mortgages.
______Creditors, suppliers, and vendors.
______The person who discovered the fire.
______The person who reported the fire
______All fire scene witnesses
______Neighbors and adjoining property owners or businesses.
______The responding firefighters and captains
______Investigating law enforcement personnel
______Realtors and sales agents involved in the most recent sale or listing of the property as well as neighboring properties
______The insurance claim personnel
______The insurance company underwriter
______The insurance cause and origin investigator
______The insurance claims attorney