- • 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).
- • When a file needs a lawyer, our law firm partner handles FL & SC coverage and bad-faith litigation. You stay on the valuation work you are licensed for.
- • No listings-for-pay, no vetting claims. This is a reference desk and a referral path, not a lead marketplace.
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 are the usual hand-off points:
When a file needs a lawyer
When a claim crosses into coverage or bad-faith territory, it can go for a free attorney case review. Our law firm partner, Halversen & Halversen, LLC, is licensed in Florida and South Carolina and handles the litigation side. The founding attorney previously defended insurers, so the files are read with the carrier’s playbook in mind. You stay on the valuation work you are licensed for.
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. Any fee arrangement between the parties must comply with the applicable state rules. Confirm the specifics for your state and license.
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.
How does a referral to your law firm partner work?
When a file crosses from a valuation dispute into a coverage or bad-faith dispute, you (or the policyholder) can send it for a free attorney case review. Our law firm partner, Halversen Law, is licensed in Florida and South Carolina and handles the litigation side. The public adjuster stays on the valuation work they are licensed for. Any fee arrangement between the parties must comply with the applicable state rules. Confirm the specifics for your state.
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. These are drafted summaries; 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.
Independent informational resource, not a law firm and not legal advice. Statutes and fee rules are drafted for education and have not been verified by counsel; confirm the current statute and any fee-sharing or referral rules for your state and license before relying on them.
Have a file that crossed into a coverage fight?
Send the denial letter, the policy, and your scope. Our law firm partner gives a straight read on whether it’s a coverage or bad-faith matter, and you keep the valuation work you’re licensed for.
HURRICANELAW.PRO The independent policyholder resource for Florida & South Carolina — storm archive, coverage law, denials, bad faith, and the complete claims playbook. 51 storms · 46 carriers · 97 public-adjuster firms · 37 city guides.
▸ SEE THE FULL SITE MAP — EVERY PAGE →HurricaneLaw.Pro is an independent informational resource, not a law firm. 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 our law firm partner, Halversen Law. Nothing on this site is legal advice; consult an attorney about your specific claim.
All legal matters on this site are referred to and handled by our law firm partner, Halversen Law, a licensed law firm in Florida and South Carolina. HurricaneLaw.Pro is an informational resource and is not itself a law firm.