Continuity Date
Definition. A Continuity Date on a Claims-Made policy is the earliest date from which the carrier agrees to consider "known wrongful acts" or prior knowledge. It anchors the carrier's exposure to wrongful acts the insured knew of before policy inception.
Also known as: Knowledge Date, Prior Acts Date
Used most often in Directors & Officers (D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), and certain Professional Liability forms. Distinct from the Retroactive Date — Retro Date controls when wrongful acts must occur; Continuity Date controls what known prior matters can be reported.
When switching carriers, maintaining the original Continuity Date is critical — losing continuity creates a coverage gap for any prior, unreported issue.
Example
A small CPA firm switches Professional Liability carriers. They negotiate to keep the Continuity Date of 2018 (when they first bought coverage) — protecting them for any prior client work that surfaces as a claim under the new policy.
Sources cited
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Reviewed by California-licensed Property & Casualty insurance agent
Jason Wootton (CA License #0I94454). Not insurance advice, an individual recommendation, or a solicitation in any state. Insurance regulations vary by state. For specific coverage decisions, consult a licensed insurance agent in your state.
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