IN SHORT: WHAT THIS PAGE IS FOR
- • Free, public-record research: carrier dossiers, storm history, deadline tools, and denial-argument breakdowns, usable on any file.
- • A public adjuster negotiates the value of a covered loss. Coverage denials, alleged fraud or misrepresentation, and bad-faith delay are legal disputes, not valuation disputes.
- • Florida caps a public adjuster fee at 20% of the claim payment, 10% for declared-emergency claims (Fla. Stat. § 626.854); South Carolina sets no statutory cap (S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48).
- • A coverage denial or bad-faith handling is a legal dispute between the policyholder and the carrier.
- • No paid listings, no vetting claims, no lead sales. Halversen Law pays no one for referrals.
The reference desk: free, public-record, usable on any file
Carrier dossiers
Public-record profiles: NAIC code, legal entity, financial status, claims contacts, and the dispute types each carrier’s policyholders report. Useful before you sit down across from their desk adjuster.
Open the carrier dossiers → THE ARGUMENTSDenial-argument library
Every argument carriers run to close a claim: wear and tear, wind-driven rain, matching, depreciation, cosmetic exclusions, each with the counter-evidence that answers it. Share the guide with a client who needs the why.
Open the denials library → THE CLOCKDeadline tools
Notice and supplemental deadlines by state and storm, plus a deductible calculator that turns a 2% to 5% hurricane deductible into a real dollar figure on the dec page.
Open the tools → THE POLICYCoverage library
Peril-by-peril references (wind, surge vs. flood, water damage, mold sub-limits) for the coverage arguments that decide scope on a contested file.
Open the coverage library →
The line between your work and a lawyer’s
You are licensed to value and negotiate a covered loss: scope, pricing, depreciation, the number. That is a different job from litigating whether a loss is covered at all. When a carrier stops arguing about the amount and starts arguing about coverage, fraud, or its own good faith, the file has crossed a line the public adjuster license does not cross. Recognizing that line early protects both the claim and you.
A public adjuster cannot file suit, cannot pursue a statutory bad-faith remedy, and cannot give legal advice (Fla. Stat. § 626.854 defines the role; S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48 governs it in South Carolina). These four situations mark where a valuation dispute becomes a legal dispute:
When a claim becomes a legal dispute
A coverage denial, a causation fight over covered damage, or bad-faith handling is a legal dispute between the policyholder and the carrier, not a valuation dispute. The policyholder can request a free case review from Halversen Law. Halversen Law pays no one for referrals.
Not sure whether a file has crossed the line? The anatomy of a denial letter and the public-adjuster role page both mark the valuation-vs-coverage boundary.
For public adjusters, FAQ
What is the line between a public adjuster’s work and an attorney’s?
A public adjuster values and negotiates a claim the carrier agrees is covered: scope, pricing, depreciation. When the carrier denies coverage, alleges fraud or misrepresentation, delays in bad faith, or the dispute becomes legal, that is an attorney’s work. A public adjuster cannot file suit, pursue a statutory bad-faith remedy, or give legal advice. Many files use an adjuster first and escalate to counsel only if the carrier will not deal fairly.
When does a claim become a legal dispute?
When the carrier denies coverage, disputes causation on covered damage, or handles the claim in bad faith, the dispute is legal rather than a valuation dispute. The policyholder can request a free case review from Halversen Law, which handles claims in South Carolina and Florida. Halversen Law pays no one for referrals.
What are the public adjuster fee rules in Florida and South Carolina?
Florida caps a public adjuster fee at 20% of the claim payment, dropping to 10% for claims arising from a declared state of emergency (Fla. Stat. § 626.854), and the fee cannot be charged on the deductible. South Carolina sets no statutory percentage cap; the fee is set by the written contract under S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48. Confirm the current statute.
Do you sell leads or charge for placement?
No. This site does not sell leads, charge for directory placement, or claim to vet or rank public adjusters. The public adjuster page lists the free state license rosters and explains how to verify a license. The tools and dossiers are public-record references, free to use.
- Fla. Stat. § 626.854, public adjuster fee limits ↗, 20% cap; 10% for declared-emergency claims; fee excludes the deductible.
- S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48, public insurance adjusters ↗, South Carolina licensing and contract-disclosure rules; no statutory fee cap.
- Fla. Stat. § 624.155, civil remedy (bad faith) ↗, Statutory civil-remedy path with the Civil Remedy Notice prerequisite.
- S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 59, improper claim practices ↗, South Carolina claim-handling standards behind bad-faith exposure.
- Florida DFS licensee search ↗, Verify a public adjuster license, free and public.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance ↗, Licensee lookup and consumer complaints.
Not legal advice; consult an attorney about your specific claim. Confirm the current statute for your state and license before relying on it.
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.
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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. Nothing on this site is legal advice; consult an attorney about your specific claim.
HurricaneLaw.Pro is attorney advertising paid for by Halversen Law, LLC. Responsible attorney: Brent Halversen, 496 Bramson Court, Suite 100, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. Operated by LARGE LLC, which is not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal advice.
Halversen Law pays for this advertisement. It is a property-insurance law firm licensed in South Carolina and Florida and reviews every case-review submission.