Can I use a public adjuster to reopen an underpaid homeowners claim, and how much do they charge?

Home insurancePaid too littleFloridaTexasChecked Nov 5, 2026

From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-05 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance · What to do if you disagree with your insurance company View original ↗

In short

A public adjuster works for you, not the insurer. They charge a fee.
Some states cap the fee. Florida and Texas do.
Florida has time limits to reopen or add to a claim. Check them first.

What this means

A public adjuster is someone you hire to help with your claim. The Texas Department of Insurance says they charge fees, so make sure you understand what you will pay before you hire one [1].

Fee limits differ by state. In Texas, the total fee may not exceed 10 percent of the settlement [2]. In Florida, for a reopened or supplemental claim, the fee may only be based on new money the adjuster gets after you sign, not on money already paid. That fee may not exceed 20 percent of the new payment [3]. Florida also caps fees at 10 percent for claims from a declared state of emergency (during the year after the declaration) and 20 percent for other claims [3].

Time limits in Florida: notice of a claim or a reopened claim must be given within 1 year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim (more damage from the same peril) must be noticed within 18 months after the date of loss [4]. For other states, the fee caps and time limits are "Don't know yet" here.

Your next step

Find your date of loss and count the time left. Ask any public adjuster for the fee in writing and check that they hold a license in your state. Florida deadlines in the sources: 1 year (claim or reopened claim) and 18 months (supplemental claim) after the date of loss.

Check it yourself

Read the contract before you sign it. Look up the adjuster's license on your state insurance department's website. Fee caps for states other than Florida and Texas: "Don't know yet".

Where this comes from (4)

[1] Texas Department of Insurance · What to do if you disagree with your insurance company · checked 2026-11-05
Some people hire a public insurance adjuster if they disagree with the number or type of damages listed by the insurance company's adjuster. Public adjusters charge fees for their services. Before you hire a public adjuster, make sure you understand what you'll have to pay.
[2] Texas Legislature · Insurance Code § 4102.104(a) · checked 2026-11-05
The total commission received may not exceed 10 percent of the amount of the insurance settlement on the claim.
[3] Florida Legislature · Fla. Stat. § 626.854(11)(a)-(b) (2026) · checked 2026-11-05
If a public adjuster enters into a contract with an insured or claimant to reopen a claim or file a supplemental claim that seeks additional payments for a claim that has been previously paid in part or in full or settled by the insurer, the public adjuster may not charge, agree to, or accept from any source compensation, payment, commission, fee, or any other thing of value based on a previous settlement or previous…
[4] Florida Legislature · Fla. Stat. § 627.70132(2) (2026) · checked 2026-11-05
A claim or reopened claim, but not a supplemental claim, under an insurance policy that provides property insurance … is barred unless notice of the claim was given to the insurer in accordance with the terms of the policy within 1 year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim is barred unless notice of the supplemental claim was given to the insurer in accordance with the terms of the policy within 18 months aft…

How we found this

We matched your question to 4 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-05.

What we don’t know yet

Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.

Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.

Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.

This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.

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