Do you need a public adjuster? Fees, caps and how to choose

There are three kinds of adjuster. Only one works for you.

Company adjuster	Employed by the insurer. Represents the insurer.
Independent adjuster	Hired by the insurer, often per storm. Still represents the insurer.
Public adjuster	Licensed by the state to represent you, the policyholder, and paid from the settlement they obtain — not by the insurer.

A public adjuster is not a lawyer and may not give legal advice or handle bodily injury, death or noneconomic damages.

What they may charge — the caps

Florida caps public adjuster compensation by statute, in § 626.854(11), Florida Statutes. This is the table most people never see before signing, and any arrangement that gets around it is itself a violation.

Claim from a Governor-declared state of emergency	10% of the claim payment — and only for claims made in the year after the declaration. After that year, the 20% limit applies.
Any other claim	20%
Payment at or above the policy limit, within 14 days of the loss or 10 days of the contract, whichever is later	1%
Payment made before the contract was signed	0% — they may not charge for it at all
Reopened or supplemental claim	20% of the new payment only — never of a previous settlement

Also fixed by the same section: deductibles are excluded from the fee base (they may not charge a percentage of your deductible); fees on additional living expenses need a separate written agreement; the rate may not be increased just because the claim ends up in litigation; and the fee is on what is paid, exclusive of attorney fees and costs.

The four questions

Was the claim denied, or badly underpaid? If the insurer's offer is at or near the policy limit, a public adjuster has very little room — the fee in that situation is capped at 1% for exactly that reason.
Is the loss large and the scope disputed? The value of a public adjuster is in documenting scope and causation — the parts an insurer's adjuster is not working hard to maximise.
Have you used the free options first? Mediation under § 627.7015 costs you nothing and the insurer pays for it. The state helpline is free. An appraisal clause may be in your policy.
Can you afford the percentage? It is paid out of your settlement, so it is real money that would otherwise be yours. Ten or twenty percent of a correct larger payment can still be the better outcome — but go in knowing the number.

How to tell a professional from a salesperson

They hand you a written contract and a written, itemised estimate within 60 days — both are required by statute.
The contract has the 18-point cancellation notice right above your signature.
They never offer to waive your deductible, give you a gift, or lend you money.
They do not demand to choose your contractor, or take a power of attorney that would let them.
They are quiet about what they cannot do, and give you their licence number without being asked.
You can verify them in a minute — the register is linked on our resources page.

Browse Florida public adjusters Your rights & deadlines

Information, not legal advice. Fee limits and duties are summarised from § 626.854, Florida Statutes, which controls. Nothing here is a recommendation of any adjuster, and this site is not a referral service.