Glossary

Declarations page

The summary page at the front of a policy listing the insured, the property, policy dates, limits, deductibles, premium, mortgage lender and attached forms.

Also called: dec page, declarations, dec sheet

Tips and Guides

The declarations page, or dec page, is the short summary at the front of your policy. It names the insured and the mailing address, identifies the insured property, states the policy period, and lists your coverage limits for Coverages A through F, your deductibles, the premium and any discounts. It also shows the mortgage lender, if there is one, and the numbers of the forms and endorsements that make up your policy.

This is the part of the contract that is specific to you. The policy booklet is the same for thousands of customers, while the dec page shows the choices that apply to your home: a $400,000 dwelling limit, a $1,000 deductible for most losses, a 2% hurricane deductible, a water backup endorsement.

Use it actively. At each renewal, compare the new dec page to the old one line by line, because limits, deductibles and endorsements can change along with the price. Check the spelling of your name, the address and the mortgagee name and loan number, since lenders and title companies use the dec page as proof of insurance. A mistake there is far easier to fix before a claim than after.

Our line-by-line guide walks through a sample, and the endorsement entry explains the forms it lists.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Named insured The person or people listed on the declarations page as the policy's owner, who hold the contract rights and receive notices and claim payments. Policy period The span between a policy's effective date and expiration date, usually 12 months, during which a loss must occur to be covered. Endorsement A written change attached to a policy that adds, removes or alters coverage, limits or conditions, and controls over the base form wherever the two conflict. Mortgagee The lender that holds the mortgage on the home, listed on the declarations page so it gets cancellation notices and shares in payments for dwelling damage. Policy limit The most an insurer will pay for a covered loss under one coverage, set separately for the house, other structures, belongings, living costs and liability. Deductible The amount of a covered property loss you pay yourself before the insurer pays the rest, shown on your declarations page as a dollar figure or a percentage.

Related guides

The additional coverages hiding in your policy The standard HO-3 lists a dozen small coverages after Coverage D, from tree removal to fire department charges. Here is what each pays and where it falls short. Making an additional living expenses claim How to claim living costs while your home is unlivable: the baseline, the receipts, advances, what adjusters question, and how to ask for more time. When an aging parent moves in: insurance questions A parent who moves in is usually an insured under the standard HO-3. The harder questions are their old house, a caregiver, home changes and later care. Your annual homeowners insurance review Compare this year's renewal declarations page with last year's, recheck your rebuild cost and discounts, and decide whether to shop. A step-by-step review. Buying home insurance online: what to watch Online quotes are fast, but pre-filled data, default coverage, lead-generation sites and look-alike websites can cost you. How to buy online and verify. Your declarations page explained, line by line The declarations page shows who and what is insured, the policy period, each limit and deductible, the premium and the forms attached. What each line means.

Related insurers

GEICO Homeowners Insurance (GEICO Insurance Agency) GEICO does not underwrite most home policies: its agency places home, condo and renters coverage with partner insurers that set the terms and pay claims. Safeco Insurance Seattle-born independent-agent insurer, owned by Liberty Mutual since 2008. The Safeco name was retired in April 2026; policies now carry Liberty Mutual's name.

Related tools

Homeowners coverage gap checker Tick the 16 statements that are true of your homeowners policy and the checker lists the gaps to fix or raise with your agent before renewal. Homeowners quote comparison worksheet Enter up to five homeowners quotes in columns and see where the coverage differs, so the cheapest price is not just the least coverage.