Glossary

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.

Also called: policyholder, first named insured

The named insured is the person or people listed by name on the declarations page. In the standard ISO homeowners form (HO 00 03), the words "you" and "your" mean the named insured and, if a resident of the same household, the spouse. Those are the people the contract is written for.

Being the named insured carries rights and duties. You can change or cancel the policy, you receive renewal, cancellation and nonrenewal notices, and you must report a loss promptly and cooperate with the adjuster. Payments for dwelling damage are normally made out to you and your mortgage lender together.

Do not confuse the named insured with everyone who is covered. The ISO form also treats resident relatives, and anyone under 21 in the care of an insured, as insureds, but they have no say over the policy. Name problems are a common source of trouble. If two partners own the house, both belong on the declarations page, and a deceased owner's name should be updated promptly. If the title sits in a trust or LLC but the policy names only you, the owner of record may not be an insured at all; see insuring a home held in a trust or LLC. For who else is covered, read who is insured on a homeowners policy, and who is not.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

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. Additional insured A person or organization added to a policy so it receives the policy's liability protection, typically an owner who does not live in the home. Additional interest A person or business with a financial stake in the insured property, such as a lienholder, listed on the policy to get notices but not coverage. 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 period The span between a policy's effective date and expiration date, usually 12 months, during which a loss must occur to be covered.

Related guides

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. Does homeowners insurance cover a college student's belongings? A student away at school is usually still an insured on a parent's HO-3, but dorm and apartment belongings face a 10% cap and your deductible. 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. Deed fraud, title insurance and your homeowners policy How forged deeds steal homes, why homeowners insurance does not cover lost ownership, what owner's title insurance may cover, and the alerts that catch it. Divorce and the homeowners policy After a separation, a spouse who moves out can lose insured status while still on the deed. How to keep the house covered, retitle the policy and avoid a gap. Insuring a home held in a trust or LLC A home moved into a revocable trust usually needs a trust endorsement or the trustee added. An LLC-owned home often cannot stay on a standard homeowners policy.