The short answer
A Florida public adjuster is a licensed professional who works for you, the policyholder, to maximize your property insurance claim settlement. They are the only category of insurance adjuster, other than attorneys, who may legally represent you in claim negotiations.
What a public adjuster does
- Reviews your policy to identify applicable coverages, endorsements, and exclusions
- Inspects the property and documents the full scope of damage
- Prepares a detailed Xactimate estimate
- Submits and manages the claim with the carrier
- Negotiates the settlement on scope and pricing
- Advances the claim through appraisal, mediation, or Civil Remedy Notice when needed
How they differ from other adjusters
- Company adjusters are employees of the insurance carrier. They work for the carrier.
- Independent adjusters are contracted by carriers. They also work for the carrier.
- Public adjusters are retained by the policyholder. They work for you.
How they're paid
Contingency fee: you pay nothing up front. Fees are capped by Florida Statute 626.854, with a reduced cap for claims arising from declared emergencies (such as hurricanes) during the first year after the declaration. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. We'll explain the specific fee that applies to your claim before you sign anything.
Licensing
All Florida public adjusters must be licensed by the Department of Financial Services. Ocean Point Claims Company operates under DFS License #W829547. Individual adjuster licenses are surfaced on our team page and are verifiable at MyFloridaCFO.