ACORD receives many questions regarding its forms, form usage,and what'snext with them. One of the people responsible for answeringthose questions is Daneen Carroll, compliance manager at ACORD. Sheanswers several industry questions here.

Q: Can users alter an ACORD form to meet their needs whetherit's for entry, additional details, or to fit in a windowenvelope?

Daneen Carroll: The simple answer is no, they can't change ACORD forms and there are several reasons. First,they are copyrighted and for that reason they can't be altered.Second, ACORD forms are filed with the individual states whererequired. That means a regulator has looked at the specific formand layout and determined that form in that format is acceptable.There are only two reasons that ACORD forms change and that's by aregulatory change or through the ACORD Standards Process. If aregulator or other governmental agency requires a change thatimpacts a form, that change is made automatically to remaincompliant. The ACORD Standards Process is where individuals or anACORD working group request changes to forms. Those changes aresubmitted for vote by the membership and if approved, become thenew version of a form.