What Is a Public Adjuster and What Do They Do?

Gary Timmons
Jan 8, 2015
2 min read

Do you know what a public adjuster is and what they do? Most people don’t―but they can be a good hip-pocket resource to know about. Here are a few facts to help you understand.

A public adjuster, as defined in Texas state statutes, is someone who acts on behalf of the insured in negotiating for or effecting the settlement of a claim. A public adjuster advises or assists the insured with a claim for loss or damage under any policy of insurance covering real or personal property.
A person who wants to become a public adjuster in Texas must be licensed in the state to do so. In order to qualify to be a licensed public adjuster, one must generally meet the following requirements: be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Texas who is deemed trustworthy or morally fit for the job, has not been convicted of a felony in the past 10 years, has been sufficiently trained in real or personal property values and the types of insurance that are available, and has passed the license examination and filed the application and fee.
Non-residents who are licensed as public adjusters in other states may also be licensed in Texas, subject to meeting certain provisions.
License holders must complete at least 15 hours a year of continuing education courses.
Public adjusters must keep records of their transactions for five years, including the name of the insured, the date, location and amount of the loss, a contract between the adjuster and the insured, an itemized statement of the recoveries, the name of the insurer as well as the amount, expiration date, and number of each policy, and total compensation received for the adjustment.
In accordance with Texas H.B. 1183, a roofing contractor cannot provide public adjuster services on a project where they may perform roofing work.

Public adjusting is a highly regulated field, but it is important to remember that a Public Adjuster works for you―not the insurance company. If you’d like more information on utilizing a public adjuster or you are in need of our services, contact us.