Lenders & Contracts · Insurance Term
ACORD Forms
Definition
ACORD forms are standardized insurance forms, such as applications and certificates, published by ACORD, a nonprofit industry standards group. Agents, insurers and lenders use them so the same information appears in the same place on every form.
In Plain English
Owners see ACORD forms in two places. The first is the application: an agent preparing a submission for commercial property and liability often uses the ACORD 125 (general commercial information), ACORD 126 (general liability section) and ACORD 140 (property section). Insurers may add their own supplemental questions.
The second is proof of coverage. The ACORD 25 is the certificate of liability insurance, and the ACORD 28 is evidence of commercial property insurance. Lenders, tenants and contractors ask for these constantly.
Because the forms are standard, errors travel with them. A wrong square footage or roof year on an application can affect pricing or a later claim, so read the completed forms before you sign.
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Example
Hypothetical: an owner of two small apartment buildings asks an agent to shop the renewal. The agent fills out an ACORD 125 and ACORD 140 with building details from the owner's records, sends it to several markets, and later issues an ACORD 28 to the owner's lender once coverage is bound.
What to Watch For
- Review every completed application for accuracy before signing, especially construction, roof age and occupancy.
- Keep copies of the applications you signed; they become part of the record insurers rely on.
- Know which certificate your counterparty needs: liability (ACORD 25) or property (ACORD 28).
Last updated October 14, 2026 · Primesure editorial team · How We Write