Public Adjuster Contract Template for the United States

When property damage forces you to file an insurance claim, a public adjuster contract template gives you a clear starting point for the working relationship with a licensed public adjuster. The document sets out each side's rights and duties and the basis on which the adjuster represents your interests with the insurer.

What is a public adjuster contract template?

It is a reusable, editable version of the agreement that hires a public adjuster to manage your claim. It captures the scope of services, the fee, the disclosures your state demands, and your right to cancel. Starting from a template means you do not draft the wording from a blank page, and you can adapt the standard clauses to the state where your loss occurred.

When do you need this document?

You need the agreement whenever you decide to hire a professional adjuster to handle your insurance claim. This usually follows significant damage from fires, floods, hurricanes, or other covered perils, where the claim is complex or the amount is large. It helps when you lack the time or confidence to negotiate with your insurer directly, or when the initial settlement offer looks too low. Owners of commercial buildings and those facing extensive residential damage or tricky coverage questions often bring in a public adjuster for exactly these reasons.

How is the adjuster's fee worked out?

Most public adjusters work on a contingency basis, so they take a percentage of what you recover rather than an up-front charge. A worked example: on a fire claim that settles for $80,000 at a 12% contingency fee, the adjuster is paid $9,600 and you keep $70,400. Several states cap the percentage, and some lower it further for claims after a declared catastrophe, so the figure in your agreement should track the limit for your state. Spell out how the fee is calculated, whether it applies to the whole settlement or only amounts above the insurer's first offer, and when payment falls due.

What terms should the agreement include?

• Scope of services, covering claim investigation, documentation, negotiation, and settlement.
• The contingency fee rate and how it is calculated.
• The adjuster's license number and bonding or professional liability details.
• Your cancellation right and the length of the cooling-off period.
• Required state disclosures and any conflict-of-interest statements.
• Your right to communicate directly with your insurer at any time.

What are the legal requirements in the United States?

Each state governs these agreements under its own insurance code and licensing rules. Most states call for plain-language wording and a minimum font size for readability. Mandatory disclosures differ by jurisdiction but commonly cover your right to cancel, the adjuster's licensing status, and any fee limits. Many states set a maximum fee rate and prescribe specific wording on payment terms. Some require warnings about conflicts of interest and confirm your right to speak with your insurer directly. NAIC Model Laws offer guidance, but the rules of your state take precedence.

Filing and compliance with the state insurance department

A few states ask for the completed contract to be filed with, or available to, the state insurance department, and some require the form to be approved by the director of insurance before an adjuster may use it. Keep a signed copy on record, note the license number issued to the adjuster, and confirm the current fee cap for the state where the loss occurred, since caps and disclosure rules are reviewed periodically and can change from one year to the next (for example, watch for any 2026 updates in your state). Compliance sits with the adjuster, but reading the contract against these rules protects you before you sign.

How does GenieAI help you draft it?

GenieAI drafts the agreement against your state's disclosure and fee rules, flags terms that fall outside the local cap, and returns a ready-to-sign document. You can browse related documents across the service agreement library, and the drafting flow explains what each term does as you go.