How to respond to a SERFF objection letter

When a state reviewer finds a filing does not meet requirements, they send an objection letter, and the filer must reply with a response letter. Here is the process, and how to keep every response defensible.

The process

• Open the objection letter from the Correspondence tab and review each objection.
• Make any needed schedule item revisions or additions while the filing is in Revise mode, then save.
• Start the response letter with "Respond" next to the objection letter; SERFF matches schedule item changes to objections.
• Enter a comment for every objection, required even when no schedule change was needed.
• Save, then Submit to send the response to the state. When every objection letter has a response, status moves to Pending State Action.

Notes that trip people up

• There can be only one response letter per objection letter.
• Additional schedule item changes cannot be made inside the response letter: save, return to Revise mode, then associate them.
• Use a Note to Reviewer only for general questions, never to submit approvable material.

Keeping responses defensible

Every response should tie back to a schedule item and a source. Tesora keeps the provenance of every factor and a full audit log of the filing, so a response can point straight to the figure that answers the objection.