Public Adjuster or Lawyer for a Florida Insurance Claim?

By Alberto Enriquez, Senior Licensed Florida Public Adjuster (License P112658)
Homeland Public Adjusters · Last reviewed: October 2026

Different licenses, different jobs, sometimes the same claim

Short answer: Both can represent you on a Florida property claim, and they do different jobs. A licensed public adjuster handles the claim itself, including disputed, underpaid and denied claims: documenting the damage, writing the estimate, and presenting and negotiating the claim with the insurer, with the fee capped by Florida law. An attorney gives legal advice and represents you in court, when a claim or a coverage dispute goes to litigation; the fee is set by your agreement with the lawyer. Many claims are settled without a lawsuit, and some claims use both.

Side by side

Florida law allows only two kinds of people to prepare, file or negotiate your claim for pay: an attorney, or a licensed and appointed public adjuster (§626.854(1) and (20)). A contractor or roofer can’t handle your claim unless also licensed as a public adjuster (§626.854(16)).

When a public adjuster usually fits

• The insurer accepts the claim but pays too little, or says the damage is below the deductible.
• The dispute is about what the storm, leak or fire actually damaged, and it needs documentation and an itemized estimate.
• You are starting a claim and want it documented right from the first inspection.
• You want to reopen a claim, add a supplemental claim, or prepare for DFS mediation or appraisal.

When an attorney usually fits

• You have decided to sue, or a lawsuit deadline is close.
• The insurer has accused you of fraud or misrepresentation, or asked for an examination under oath and you want legal counsel.
• A coverage dispute or a bad-faith question is headed to court.

When both work on the same claim

Some claims start with a public adjuster and move to an attorney if negotiation stalls; the documentation and estimate carry over. Florida computes the public adjuster’s capped fee on claim payments exclusive of attorney fees and costs, and a public adjuster’s rate can’t go up just because the claim is litigated (§626.854(11)(b) and (e)).

How to find and check each one

• Public adjuster: search the name or license number on the DFS licensee search. Our guide shows how to read the DFS record.
• Attorney: The Florida Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service takes calls at 800-342-8011 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and online requests 24/7, and offers a 30-minute consultation for no more than $25.

Where Homeland fits

Homeland Public Adjusters is a public adjusting firm, not a law firm. Call us first for a free claim review: if your claim is one a public adjuster can move forward, we document it and negotiate it for you. If your claim needs an attorney, we’ll tell you so honestly. Call Homeland first, 24/7, at (305) 783-3777. A licensed Homeland public adjuster comes to your property within hours, anywhere in Florida. No Recovery, No Fee. Hablamos español.

Frequently asked questions

Sources (checked October 30, 2026)

• Fla. Stat. §626.854: public adjuster rules, fee caps and cancellation rights
• Fla. Stat. §627.70152: notice of intent to initiate litigation
• Florida DFS Licensee Search
• Florida DFS: Public Adjusters
• Florida DFS: Mediation and Neutral Evaluation
• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service
• The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer (member directory)

This article is for general information only and is not legal or insurance advice. Statutes, regulations and policy wording change, and how they apply depends on your own policy and the facts of your claim. Homeland Public Adjusters is a public adjusting firm, not a law firm.

Still Have Questions About Your Property Insurance Claim?

Every loss and every claim has its own circumstances. Call us 24/7 to talk through yours, or request a free claim review.

Or call 24/7: (305) 783-3777 Florida · (732) 517-3777 New Jersey. Hablamos español.