Insurance Claim Disputes (Feb. 2014) | Page 4

W W W . I N S U R A N C E - D I S P U T E - A T T O R N E Y. C O M W H AT ? • Assignment of Benefits: Legal document entitling the restoration company to “stand in the shoes” of the insured. • Assigning the benefits of the insurance policy for a specific claim • Insurance Company has to deal with YOU as opposed to the property owner for your bill. • The effect of a valid assignment is to allow you to receive all benefits and rights under the insurance contract. W H O CA N S I G N ? • The policy holder or named insured • Authorized Representative / Property manager • Tenant with authorization from the insured WHERE? • Assignment of Benefits should be a separate document and/or separate clause in contract • State the name of the insurance company • Signed by the named insured or an authorized representative W H E N CA N T H E A S S I G N M E N T B E EXECUTED? • Anytime within the Statute of Limitations • Check your state for the Statute of Limitation • Each state is different • For Example: Florida has a 5 year Statute of Limitations WHY? • Allows you to be paid directly from Insurance Company as if you were the property owner/ policy holder DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSIGNMENT OF B E N E F I T S A N D D I R E C T I O N TO PAY: Direction to Pay: • Simply instructs the insurance company how to pay • Conveys no legal standing • Can not bring suit under a direction to pay • Bad faith, not an option Assignment of Benefits: • Conveys legal standing • Conveys to bring suit/claim against insurance company in dispute • Allows the assignor to stand in the shoes of insured • Bad faith becomes an option REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ASSIGNMENT TO B E E F F E C T I V E : • For an assignment to be effective, it must be )ͥ