What should I do if I receive an insurance claim check after my mortgage has closed?
Contact your current mortgage servicer before signing or depositing the check. Closing does not necessarily end the mortgage company’s role when an insurance claim involves the property securing the loan. Many servicers require the check to be reviewed before they will endorse it.
Ask the servicer’s servicing or claim-handling team to explain:
- Whether the check requires the servicer’s endorsement
- Where the original check, clear images, or related documents should be sent
- Whether a property-repair process is tied to the request
- What you should keep for your records
Follow the instructions from the company that currently services the loan. Keep copies of the check and every document you submit.
What should I do if I receive a check that needs my mortgage company’s endorsement?
Call the loan servicer or servicing department before attempting to deposit the check. Explain that the check appears to require the mortgage company’s endorsement and ask for the exact submission process. The servicer may request clear images of the check and related documents so the correct team can review it.
Do not assume the original lender still handles the loan. Confirm who currently services it, then follow that company’s instructions about signatures, delivery, and next steps. Servicing procedures can vary, so the directions for another homeowner or another claim may not match yours. For more context on identifying the current servicer, see mortgage servicing transfers and first payments.
Why might my mortgage company ask for photos of the front and back of an endorsed insurance claim check?
Front-and-back photos help the mortgage company or servicer confirm the check details, verify that required endorsements appear on it, and document the request for servicing or claim-handling purposes. Clear images can also help the servicing team determine what should happen next.
Send images only through the method the servicer provides. Make sure both sides are readable, keep your own copies, and include any related documents the servicer requests. If an instruction is unclear, ask the servicing team to confirm it before sending or depositing the check.
What should a homeowner do when an insurance claim check may require the mortgage lender’s endorsement?
Contact the mortgage lender or current servicer before signing, depositing, or handing off the check. Ask whether its endorsement is required, who must sign, whether an appointment is needed, and what documents or check images should be provided.
If a contractor or another party says the check can be processed without the lender’s endorsement, do not bypass the lender’s process. Follow the lender or servicer’s instructions and keep copies of what you submit. Homeowners who want background on how property coverage relates to a mortgage can also read homeowners insurance and mortgage requirements.
