ACORD Forms
ACORD 36: Agent/Broker of Record Change
The ACORD 36 is the Agent/Broker of Record Change, the standard BOR letter. Signed by the insured, it instructs a carrier to move representation of the listed policies to a new agency: servicing, communications, and commissions all follow the form.
What it is
The ACORD 36 is the Agent/Broker of Record Change, the standard BOR letter. Signed by the insured, it instructs a carrier to move representation of the listed policies to a new agency: servicing, communications, and commissions all follow the form.
It is a consequential document, not routine paperwork. Once the carrier processes a BOR, the prior agency is out. The coverage itself does not change at all: same policy, same carrier, same premium, new agent.
When it's used
- Taking over an account mid-term without remarketing it. The policies stay where they are; the representation moves.
- Consolidating a client's policies under one agency after years of scattered placements.
- One form per carrier. A client with policies at three carriers signs three separate forms.
Section-by-section walkthrough
Date and effective date
The date the insured signs and the date the change takes effect.
Watch for: Missing dates. Carriers process BORs against dates, and a dateless form invites a rejection.
Carrier and policy numbers
The carrier the notice is addressed to and the specific policy numbers moving.
Watch for: Writing "all policies" instead of listing numbers. Carriers move what is listed. The policy nobody listed stays with the old agent.
Named insured information
The policyholder's legal name and address as the carrier has them on file.
Watch for: A DBA where the carrier's records hold the legal entity. The BOR has to match the policyholder of record.
Appointment statement
The pre-printed language appointing the new agency and replacing the prior agent's authority, with the new agency named. This sentence is the whole point of the form.
Insured's authorized signature
The named insured signs. For a business that means an owner or officer with authority to act, not whoever was at the desk.
Watch for: Signatures from people without authority to bind the insured. Carriers reject those.
New agency information
The incoming agency's name, address, and identifying codes with the carrier.
Watch for: A new agency with no appointment at that carrier. A BOR cannot move an account to an agency the carrier cannot pay.
In Relay
ACORD Generation is live in Relay. It drafts the ACORD 36 from the client record and the documents you already have, and a person reviews every field before anything goes out. See how →
Common errors
- One form covering policies at multiple carriers. Each carrier gets its own signed ACORD 36.
- Signed by an employee without authority to bind the business.
- Policy numbers omitted, so only part of the account actually moves.
- Treating the change as instant. Carriers process BORs on their own schedules, and some give the incumbent agent a chance to respond before finalizing.
- Filing a BOR when the client actually wanted new coverage. A BOR moves representation; it does not remarket anything.
Common questions
Does an ACORD 36 change the policy or the price?
No. Coverage, carrier, and premium stay exactly as they are. The form changes who represents the insured and who earns the commission.
Can a BOR be reversed?
The insured can sign a new BOR back to the prior agency, and some carriers give the incumbent a response window before processing. But treat a signed 36 as a binding instruction, because carriers do.
Can Relay draft an ACORD 36?
Yes. ACORD Generation is live in Relay. It drafts the form from the client record, and a person reviews it before anything is sent for signature.
Part of the Relay ACORD form library. Updated 2026-07-11. See how we source content.
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