ACORD 131: Umbrella / Excess Section

ACORD 131 is the commercial Umbrella Section, also used to organize information for an excess liability request where accepted. The underlying insurance schedule is central to the packet.

What it is

ACORD 131 is the commercial Umbrella Section, also used to organize information for an excess liability request where accepted. The underlying insurance schedule is central to the packet.

Collect the relevant underlying policies, requested higher limits, and the account's operations and exposures. Reconcile insured names, policy periods, and attachment requirements before presenting the submission.

When it's used

The market requests this section for an umbrella or excess submission.
An account's underlying program has changed.
A renewal needs updated exposures and underlying policy information.

Section-by-section walkthrough

Identification

Agency, carrier, policy number, effective dates, and named insured, consistent with the ACORD 125.

Review check: Match the commercial applicant information.

Policy information

Whether the request is umbrella or excess, the occurrence and aggregate limits requested, the retained limit, and retroactive dates where claims-made coverage applies.

Review check: Record the requested product and terms.

Employee benefits liability

Limits and retained amounts if the umbrella extends over employee benefits liability, plus the benefit programs involved.

Review check: Confirm any employee benefits liability request.

Locations and operations

Operations and exposure information by location, including payroll, sales, and employee counts for the requested periods.

Review check: Reconcile locations and exposures.

Underlying insurance

The schedule of underlying policies: general liability, business auto, employers liability, and any others the umbrella attaches over. Carrier, policy number, effective dates, limits, and annual premium for each.

Review check: Verify each underlying policy and required limits.

Care, custody, control

Property of others in the applicant's care: what it is, whether it is real or personal property, and the values involved.

Review check: Describe property of others accurately.

Vehicles

Counts of owned, non-owned, and leased vehicles, plus hauling operations and the distances they run.

Review check: Check vehicle counts and use.

Additional exposure questions

The form's additional exposure questions, including aircraft, watercraft, cargo, and other activities relevant to the submission.

Review check: Explain material exposures as instructed.

Remarks

Explanations and context, including anything about the underlying program that does not fit the schedule.

Review check: Identify unresolved underlying-program questions.

In Relay

Relay can prepare supported ACORD drafts from the documents you provide. This reference guide explains ACORD 131; it is not a promise that this form or edition is available in your workspace. Check the supported form, then review the fields and missing answers before use. See how →

Common errors

Old underlying limits or dates.
Inconsistent exposures across the commercial packet.
Assuming every excess policy follows all underlying terms.

Common questions

How do umbrella and excess differ?

Product names alone do not establish the terms. Ask which form is being quoted and review underlying requirements, exclusions, retained limits, and any broader provisions in the actual policy.

Which policies belong in the underlying schedule?

Include the policies the proposed program requires, using their current insurers, limits, dates, and identifiers. Explain gaps or differences for the underwriter.

Form references

Confirm the form edition and requirements with the market receiving the submission.

Part of the Relay ACORD form library. Updated 2026-07-11. See how we source content.

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