Insurance Laws- Home burned w/ contents Replacement do i have to replace the exactly same items to collect for insurance

Your local state laws and regulations are important to answer your questions but so are the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. A typical replacement policy says that insurance company will pay you fair market value of item UNLESS you replace it with new item within time frame specified in policy (could be as little as 30 days after receipt of check for fair market value). If you show proof of purchase within the time limit you are paid the difference between fair market value and actual purchase price.

The requirement of item for item has some logic but a good insurance carrier may work with you a bit if you can fit fairness into the discussion. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you be accurate with property inventory. It sure helps if you can prove original purchase. If you are reduced to estimating items, make that clear in writing. Your policy may well have an "antifraud clause" that permits carrier to VOID policy if it discovers a single, intentional misrepresentation of material fact. Here in WA, a homeowner sued his carrier for bad faith denial of fire claim. The insurance carrier convinced the jury the guy lied about one porclean statue in a pile of rubble. That was enough to void the policy.