What happens to homeowners insurance when the homeowner dies?
Jessica Young
Published Jan 19, 2026
When the homeowner who purchased the insurance policy passes away, the estate executor will be responsible for notifying the insurance company. Then, the estate must arrange to continue coverage, or a person buying the home must arrange for insurance. The original policy won’t be transferable.
Does house insurance continue after death?
Will the deceased’s home insurance still cover their property? After someone dies, if their home insurance was only in their name, sadly the cover becomes void. But if the policy was in joint names, it will still cover the surviving policyholder (though the names on the policy will need to be updated).
Whose name does homeowners insurance have to be in?
Does a homeowners insurance policy have to have the name of the current owners on the policy? Yes, for the insurance company to issue the homeowners insurance policy, the home has to be named under the person living in the home, particularly, the one who is named as the owner of the house.
Can you get home insurance after your mother dies?
I had homeowners insurance all that time but now that my mom died, they say I can’t insure the house. Why? Ask a lawyer – it’s free! I appreciate the frustration in not being able to get homeowner’s insurance on your property after your Mother died because title to the real estate is in Mom’s name or in joint names with your deceased Father.
What happens to a deceased homeowner’s insurance?
If the spouse of a deceased policy holder wishes to continue the insurance plan, it must be rewritten by the insurance company to reflect these changes. Contact the Insurance Company As soon as possible, contact the company that holds the insurance policy on the home. Inform the representative of the homeowner’s death.
What happens if you don’t have your name on a home insurance policy?
If you don’t have your name on the policy, or if all the people listed on the policy are deceased, the policy becomes the responsibility of the legal representative of the estate for the term of the policy. If that’s you, notify the insurance company that you are now their primary contact.
When does an executor change the name of the homeowners insurance policy?
The executor basically handles everything in regard to the individual’s estate until it is finalized. During this period, the executor may need to call the homeowners insurance company and change the name of the policy over to the estate. The executor may also need to add his own name to the homeowner’s insurance policy during this process.