Cockatoo guide

Umbrella and excess liability policies

Umbrella and excess policies can provide additional liability protection above specified underlying arrangements.

Umbrella and excess policies can provide additional liability protection above specified underlying arrangements.

The distinction that matters

The terms are not interchangeable: attachment, exclusions and any wider cover depend on the wording and scheduled underlying policies.

What to check

  • Check underlying limits and maintenance requirements.
  • Review attachment and exhaustion rules.
  • Compare exclusions across layers.

Example to discuss

A business increasing its liability limit checks whether the upper layer follows the underlying wording or introduces a new exclusion.

This is a hypothetical comparison, not a customer claim or a determination of cover.

Sources and further reading

General information only. The policy, schedule and applicable rules determine the actual position. For a personal decision, use an appropriately qualified adviser or the relevant provider.

Sources

References used in this guide