- •A public adjuster is a licensed professional who represents the policyholder, not the carrier, in valuing and negotiating a claim.
- •Florida caps a public adjuster fee at 20% of the claim payment, dropping to 10% for claims from a declared state of emergency (Fla. Stat. § 626.854).
- •South Carolina sets no statutory fee cap; the percentage is negotiated in the contract (S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48).
- •The fee is calculated on what the carrier pays; it may not be charged on your deductible.
- •Verify any adjuster against the free state license roster (Florida DFS in FL, the SC Department of Insurance in SC) before signing.
What a public adjuster actually does
There are three kinds of insurance adjuster. A company (staff) adjuster and an independent adjuster both work for the carrier. A public adjuster is the only one licensed to work for you, the policyholder. They inspect and document the damage, build a detailed scope and estimate, read your policy for coverage you may have missed, and negotiate the payout with the carrier.
They are paid on contingency, a percentage of what you recover, so their incentive is a bigger, faster settlement. That percentage is exactly what the state fee rules below govern. A public adjuster is not a contractor (they do not repair anything) and not a lawyer (they cannot sue the carrier or give legal advice).
The fee, by state
The single most important number in a public adjuster contract is the fee percentage. Florida caps it by statute; South Carolina leaves it to the contract. Both apply the fee only to what the insurer pays.
Capped by statute: 20% of the claim payment, or 10% for claims arising from a declared state of emergency (§ 626.854).
Fee may not be based on the policy deductible, only on amounts the insurer actually pays.
Statutory cancellation window applies, with a longer window tied to declared emergencies.
Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) licenses and disciplines public adjusters.
No statutory percentage cap; compensation is set by the written contract between adjuster and insured.
Compensation terms are contractual; read exactly what the percentage is applied to.
Contract must carry the disclosures required under Title 38, Chapter 48; confirm cancellation terms in writing.
South Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI) licenses public insurance adjusters.
Florida: Fla. Stat. § 626.854(11), 20% cap, 10% for declared-emergency claims; fee excludes the deductible. South Carolina: no statutory percentage cap; S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48. Read your contract and the current statute.
Four steps before you sign
Get the full legal name and license number
Ask for the name exactly as licensed and the state license (or NPN) number. A licensed public adjuster will give it without hesitation. Reluctance is the first red flag.
Search the state roster
Florida: the Department of Financial Services licensee search. South Carolina: the SC Department of Insurance licensee lookup. Both are free and public.
Confirm the license type and status
You want an active public adjuster license (not a company or general adjuster line) with a current, non-suspended status in the state where your property sits.
Read the contract before you sign
The fee percentage, the description of the loss, and the required consumer notices must be in writing. In Florida you have a statutory right to cancel within the emergency window. Do not sign under pressure at your door.
- •Florida: Department of Financial Services licensee search: licenseesearch.fldfs.com
- •South Carolina: Department of Insurance licensing & licensee lookup: doi.sc.gov
When it stops being a numbers fight
A public adjuster is the right call when the carrier agrees the loss is covered but the check is too low. The fight is about scope, pricing, and depreciation. A public adjuster cannot file suit, cannot pursue a bad-faith claim, and cannot give legal advice.
When the carrier denies coverage outright, alleges misrepresentation, sits on the claim past the statutory deadlines, or otherwise acts in bad faith, that is legal territory. If your claim was denied rather than merely underpaid, start with a free attorney review. See our guides on why claims get denied and the claim deadlines that protect your rights.
A searchable, city-mapped roster of licensed public adjusters is being built from the official state licensee rolls. Until it publishes, this page is a how-to, not a listing. HurricaneLaw.pro does not vet, rank, or recommend individual adjusters. Verify anyone yourself against the state roster above.
Public adjusters, FAQ
How much does a public adjuster cost in Florida?
Florida law caps the fee at 20% of the claim payment, and 10% for claims arising from an event that is the subject of a declared state of emergency by the Governor (Fla. Stat. § 626.854). The fee is a percentage of what the insurer pays and may not be charged on your deductible.
Is there a fee cap in South Carolina?
South Carolina does not set a statutory percentage cap on public adjuster fees. The compensation is negotiated and stated in the written contract, which must include the consumer disclosures required by S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48. Confirm the percentage and what it applies to before signing.
Public adjuster or attorney, which do I need?
A public adjuster negotiates the value of a claim the carrier agrees is covered. When the carrier denies coverage, alleges fraud, delays in bad faith, or the dispute becomes legal, an attorney is the right professional. Many claims use an adjuster first and escalate to counsel if the carrier will not deal fairly.
How do I check that a public adjuster is licensed?
Search the free state roster: the Florida Department of Financial Services licensee search for Florida, or the South Carolina Department of Insurance licensee lookup for South Carolina. Confirm an active public adjuster license in the state where the property is located before you sign a contract.
Can a public adjuster help after my claim was already denied?
Sometimes, but a flat denial of coverage is often a legal dispute rather than a valuation dispute. If the loss is denied outright, not merely underpaid, a free attorney case review is usually the better first step to understand your options.
Not legal advice; consult an attorney or the current statute about your specific claim. Fee-cap figures per Fla. Stat. § 626.854; South Carolina public adjuster licensing per S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48.
Denied, not just underpaid? Talk to an attorney first.
Send the denial letter and your declarations page. You'll get a straight read on whether this is a valuation fight for an adjuster or a coverage fight that needs a lawyer.
HURRICANELAW.PRO A comprehensive property-insurance claim resource for policyholders: denied and underpaid claims, coverage and bad-faith law, storm dossiers, carrier profiles, city guides, and the complete claims playbook. Florida and South Carolina.
▸ SEE THE FULL SITE MAP →Coverage summaries, policy-language quotations, dollar figures, deadlines, and chart examples throughout this site are general information based on typical or standard policy forms and are illustrative only: they are not a quote, a guarantee of coverage, or a promise of any outcome. Every insurance policy is different: your own policy, endorsements, and state law control, so read your policy and confirm current statutes. Weather imagery courtesy of NOAA, the National Hurricane Center, and the National Weather Service. Legal services are provided by Halversen Law. Nothing on this site is legal advice; consult an attorney about your specific claim.
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