Questions we hear every week: answered

A public adjuster is a Florida-licensed professional who represents the policyholder, not the insurance carrier, in negotiating property insurance claims on a contingency basis.

You don't always need a public adjuster, but if your claim is complex, denied, underpaid, delayed, or involves a significant loss, a public adjuster typically recovers materially more than homeowners handling claims alone.

Ideally, as early in the claim process as possible, but Florida public adjusters can also be engaged after denial, underpayment, or delay, subject to the 1-year (new/reopened) and 18-month (supplemental) statutory deadlines.

Florida public adjuster fees are set on a contingency basis and capped by Florida Statute 626.854, with a reduced cap for claims arising from declared emergencies. No recovery, no fee.

A public adjuster manages your claim and negotiates scope and settlement. An attorney litigates coverage disputes or bad-faith actions. For most Florida property claims, a public adjuster is the right starting point; attorneys get involved when litigation or bad-faith is warranted.

A public adjuster is licensed to represent the policyholder and is paid only by the policyholder. An insurance company adjuster (staff or independent) represents the insurance carrier. They are opposites.

For most denied, underpaid, delayed, or significant Florida property claims, yes: policyholders with public adjusters recover materially more than those handling claims alone, net of the fee.

Under Florida Statute 627.70132, new hurricane claims must be reported within 1 year of the date of loss. Supplemental claims have 18 months.

Florida insurers must acknowledge within 7 days, begin investigation within 7 days of proof-of-loss, inspect within 30 days, and pay or deny the claim within 60 days. Fla. Stat. 627.70131.

Yes: subject to statutory deadlines. Supplemental claims are permitted within 18 months of date of loss; reopened claims within 1 year. A public adjuster can pursue additional recovery within these windows.

Verify the DFS license at MyFloridaCFO, check for FAPIA/NAPIA membership, review documented case results, read independent reviews, and confirm contingency-fee structure matches statutory caps.

Florida carriers can sometimes non-renew after a claim. What triggers non-renewal and what protection Florida law provides.

Florida claims don't have a strict 'open' duration but have specific statutory windows. The effective lifespan of a claim.

Yes. Florida policyholders have specific rights to dispute carrier estimates. The mechanisms and procedures.

When carriers don't respond, Florida statutes give policyholders specific recourse. The escalation steps.

Multiple estimates aren't required by Florida statute but often strengthen claims and shift the negotiation. When they help, how many, and which kinds of pricing matter most.

When you believe coverage applies but carrier says it doesn't, Florida has specific processes for resolution.

Yes: Florida law allows reopening closed claims within specific statutory windows. The reopening vs. supplemental claim distinction, the mechanisms, and the deadlines that control eligibility.

Partial payment isn't necessarily final on a Florida claim. How to read what the partial payment means, supplement the claim with additional scope, and pursue the remaining recovery.

Proving damage requires specific evidence: photos, measurements, expert reports, contents inventory. The complete approach.

Florida carriers must conduct reasonable investigation before denial. What counts as investigation and what doesn't.

Florida public adjuster fees are capped by statute: here's how the cap works for hurricane vs. non-hurricane claims.

Florida policyholders can terminate a public adjuster contract: here's how the statutory notice and fee rules work.

Florida public adjusters often work alongside policyholder attorneys: how the roles divide, when each is appropriate, and how engagement letters split the work and the fee structure.

The appraisal clause is an alternative dispute resolution built into most Florida property policies: here's how it works.

Florida Statute 627.70132 sets specific statutory notice deadlines for initial, supplemental, and reopened claims, and missing one can bar the claim entirely. The current deadlines and how they apply.

Filing a property insurance claim can affect renewal pricing and insurability: here's the honest answer.

Loss of Use / Additional Living Expense coverage pays for temporary housing and costs when your home is uninhabitable.

ACV, Actual Cash Value, is replacement cost minus depreciation. Here's why it matters on a Florida claim.

RCV holdback is the amount of your claim the carrier keeps until you complete repairs: here's how to release it.

A reservation of rights letter preserves the carrier's ability to deny coverage later: here's what it means.

A Civil Remedy Notice is the statutory prerequisite to a Florida bad-faith claim: here's how it works.

Florida law allows separate hurricane deductibles (typically 2%–10% of dwelling coverage). Here's how it works.

Standard Florida homeowners policies exclude flood entirely. NFIP and private flood policies fill the gap: how each works, what's covered, and how flood coverage interacts with hurricane claims.

An EUO is a sworn statement taken by the insurance company: here's what to expect and how to prepare.

Storm surge is typically treated as flood under Florida policies, not a hurricane loss. Here's why it matters.

A wind mitigation inspection can significantly reduce your Florida hurricane premium: here's what it covers.

You almost always can choose your own contractor on a Florida property claim, despite carrier pressure to use their preferred network. The rule, the exceptions, and how to push back.

Your mortgagee has an insurable interest in the property: here's why they appear on the check and how releases work.

An Assignment of Benefits transfers policy rights to a contractor: heavily restricted in Florida after 2022.

Subrogation lets your insurer recover from the party that caused your loss: here's how it affects you.

Yes: Florida public adjusters represent commercial property owners, business interruption claims, and large-loss matters in addition to residential. How commercial claim representation differs.

Mold coverage in Florida policies is typically limited by sublimit: often $10,000. Here's how it works.

Tree damage coverage on Florida policies depends on what the tree hit and why it fell. The breakdown by structure damaged, peril, neighbor's tree vs. yours, and what removal coverage looks like.

Preexisting-damage disputes are common on Florida claims. The photo, inspection, maintenance, and prior-claim records that demonstrate the loss is new and how to assemble them.

All-risk (open-peril) coverage covers any loss not specifically excluded: which makes exclusions critical.

A Sworn Proof of Loss is a notarized statement of claim facts that Florida carriers can require. What it must contain, how to complete it correctly, and the consequences of getting it wrong.

Some Florida property policies contain mandatory arbitration clauses; others don't. How to read your policy, what arbitration changes about the dispute path, and your alternatives.

Ordinance or Law coverage pays for code-upgrade costs on Florida repairs that current building codes require. How the coverage works, the standard limits, and when it's worth increasing.

Sinkhole coverage is regulated separately in Florida: here's what standard vs. catastrophic ground cover collapse mean.

Florida policyholders have multiple paths after an unfair denial: appraisal, CRN, mediation, litigation.

Florida Statute 627.70131 sets carrier acknowledgement, investigation, and payment deadlines for property claims. The 14-day, 30-day, and 60-day windows and what they mean for your claim.

Fla. Stat. 627.70152 requires policyholders to send a pre-suit notice before filing against a property insurer.

Florida carriers have specific statutory rules on cancellation and non-renewal after a claim. Notice requirements, allowable grounds, and what to do if you receive a non-renewal letter.

Yes: even after a Florida settlement offer, a public adjuster can often supplement, reopen, or invoke appraisal to recover additional amounts. The eligibility windows and how it works.

Three types of adjuster operate in Florida: company, independent, and public. Who works for whom, why the distinction matters on every claim, and how attorneys fit alongside.

Adjusters evaluate the loss in policy and pricing terms; contractors build the repair. Why the distinction is sharp on Florida claims, why a contractor's bid isn't a claim estimate, and how the two roles interact.

A contents inventory is the itemized list of personal-property damage: here's how to build one that gets paid.

Yes: ALE (Additional Living Expense) is reimbursement-based in Florida, so receipts and documentation are required. What qualifies, how to track expenses, and the typical sublimits and duration caps.

No: under Florida law, only licensed public adjusters can negotiate insurance claims on your behalf.

Diminution in value is the loss of market value that remains after repairs: here's its limited role in Florida claims.

A coverage letter is the carrier's formal position on whether a loss is covered: here's how to read one.

Yes: Ocean Point represents Florida policyholders on fire, smoke, and post-fire claims, including total losses, partial losses, and contents inventories. Eli Goins is the firm's lead fire adjuster.

Adjuster reassignment is common in Florida: here's how to keep your claim from falling through the cracks.