Paralegal Services Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a paralegal services business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for independent paralegals and legal document preparers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability / E&O (Paralegal / Document Preparer) | Covers missed deadlines and drafting errors — check the UPL exclusion. | Core | |
| Registration Surety Bond | Required by law in some states (California LDAs post $25,000). | Core | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers SSNs and financial data in client filings. | Core | |
| Regulatory / UPL Defense | Covers defense of bar and attorney general UPL actions. | Prevalent | |
| General Liability | Covers clients visiting your office. | Prevalent | |
| Business Owner's Policy | Covers office contents and business income. | Prevalent | |
| Crime / Fidelity | Covers client filing fees and funds you hold. | Prevalent | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims from staff. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers staff if you have employees. | Situational | |
| Notary E&O | Covers documents you also notarize. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by paralegal businesses is the unauthorized-practice exclusion. Many paralegal E&O policies exclude claims arising from the unauthorized practice of law, yet that is the allegation that comes with almost every client loss for direct-to-public preparers, and enforcement is real (Ohio's Smidt case, the 2025 Upsolve ruling). Read the exclusion closely, look for defense-cost coverage, and keep any required registration bond in force.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your paralegal services coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Paralegal Services Insurance · Paralegal Services Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a paralegal services business need?
The core coverages for a paralegal services business are Professional Liability / E&O (Paralegal / Document Preparer), Registration Surety Bond, Cyber Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my paralegal services coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.