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Excess and surplus lines

290084-00

Direct placement tax

I just received a copy of a form entitled “Direct Placement Tax Return—Insurance Placement with Unauthorized Insurer or Self-Insurer’s Report.” What is the purpose of this form?

290170-00

Rules for accessing the surplus-lines market

For risks that do not automatically qualify for the surplus-lines market, I continue to hear somewhat conflicting information about the need for and completeness of declinations in the admitted market. Is there some “flexibility” that makes this less onerous?

290184-00

Diligent effort

The Certification Of Effort To Place Risk With Authorized Insurer provides a place to record declinations below this statement: “The following insurers are among those that I contacted relative to this risk....”

Smaller agencies may not have three admitted insurers to contact for the placement of a particular risk. Have any alternatives been approved by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance; for example, recording declinations received directly by the applicant?

900369-00

Massachusetts surplus-lines fees

What is the law on the maximum surplus-lines fee that can be charged in Massachusetts?