You see the whole claim before filing
The claim is yours. An adviser whose process puts the full claim in front of you, with time to read it, before it is filed, is treating it that way.
Why it matters
A claim is filed in your name, and you answer for it if it is reviewed. An adviser whose process gives you the full claim, the figures and the technical case, with enough time to read it and have your technical people read it, is giving you the chance to make sure it is true. That is one of the most effective protections you have, under any fee model.
How to check for it
- Ask at what point you will see the full claim, and in what form. A summary is not the claim.
- Ask how much time you will have, and whether filing waits for your written approval of the final version.
- Ask whether the technical descriptions will be shown to the people who did the work.
- Ask whether changes you request will be made, and what happens if the adviser disagrees.
- Ask for a copy of what is filed, for your own records.
What it does not tell you
A green flag is a practice, not a verdict. An adviser with every green flag on this list can still prepare a weak claim, and an adviser with none of them can prepare a strong one. It is one thing to look for, alongside the questions to ask and the references you can speak to.
Read next
- The question: can we see the full claim before filing?
- The red flag: you cannot see the claim
- Script: asking to see the claim before filing
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