Short answer: A Florida public adjuster is a state-licensed professional who represents the policyholder, not the insurance company, in a property claim. Licensed under Fla. Stat. 626.854, they inspect the damage, review the policy, prepare the estimate, document losses, and negotiate the settlement, typically on a contingency fee capped by statute.
Who a public adjuster represents
When you file a claim, the carrier assigns its own adjuster, who works for the insurer. A public adjuster is the opposite: licensed under Fla. Stat. 626.854 to represent only the policyholder. In Florida, only a public adjuster or an attorney may legally represent you in a claim negotiation.
What a public adjuster does during a claim
The work runs across the whole claim, not just the inspection:
- Reviews the policy to identify every applicable coverage, endorsement, and sublimit
- Inspects the property and documents the full scope, including attic and hidden damage
- Prepares a line-item Xactimate estimate at current Florida pricing
- Submits the claim and manages all carrier correspondence
- Negotiates scope and pricing line by line
- Files supplemental claims within the 18-month window under Fla. Stat. 627.70132
- Represents the policyholder in appraisal and DFS mediation
- Files a Civil Remedy Notice under Fla. Stat. 624.155 when carrier conduct warrants
What it costs
Public adjuster fees are contingency-based and capped by Fla. Stat. 626.854: a standard cap of 20% of the claim payment, reduced to 10% for claims tied to a declared state of emergency during the first year after the declaration. There is no up-front cost, and Florida law gives you a 10-day right to cancel the contract without penalty.
When to bring in a public adjuster
A public adjuster is the right fit when:
- The carrier's offer is lower than the documented damage
- Scope or pricing is disputed, but coverage is not
- You need to file a supplemental claim
- Appraisal has been invoked and you need panel representation
- The claim is large or involves several damage types at once
How a public adjuster differs from the carrier's adjuster
Three roles get confused. The company (staff) adjuster is an employee of the insurer. The independent adjuster is a contractor the carrier hires during catastrophe surges, still working for the carrier. The public adjuster is the only one of the three who works for you. That difference in loyalty is why the carrier's estimate and an independent public adjuster's estimate of the same loss can diverge so widely.
A typical engagement, step by step
- Policy review to map every coverage, endorsement, and sublimit
- Full inspection, including attic, roof, and moisture readings
- A line-item Xactimate estimate at current Florida pricing
- Submission and a written supplemental for anything the carrier omitted
- Negotiation, and if needed appraisal, DFS mediation, or a Civil Remedy Notice
What a public adjuster is not
A public adjuster is not an attorney and does not file lawsuits or argue coverage in court. When a claim genuinely requires litigation, for example a full coverage denial or a bad-faith matter under Fla. Stat. 624.155, the public adjuster coordinates with first-party counsel while continuing to support the claim-scope work as an expert.
What to expect at the first consultation
A first claim review costs nothing and carries no obligation. Expect the adjuster to look at your policy declarations, the carrier's estimate or denial letter, and your photos, then give a straight read on whether the claim was underscoped and what representation could realistically add. Florida law gives you a 10-day right to cancel the contract without penalty under Fla. Stat. 626.854, so there is no pressure to decide on the spot.
What to do next
If your Florida claim was denied, underpaid, or delayed, a free claim review will tell you whether representation is likely to improve the outcome. Call (888) 824-1306 or request a free claim review.