What Is a Public Adjuster in Connecticut?
What Does a Public Adjuster Do?
A public adjuster is a licensed professional you hire to handle your insurance claim and negotiate the settlement on your behalf. They represent policyholders only. The insurance company adjuster works for the insurer; a public adjuster works for you and is paid a percentage of what the insurance company pays.
| Works for | The policyholder, never the insurance company |
|---|---|
| Handles | Property insurance claims for homes and businesses |
| Licensed by | Connecticut Insurance Department |
| Paid | A percentage of the settlement, 10% maximum in Connecticut |
| Can't | Give legal advice or work for both sides |
Who Works for Whom on Your Claim
Every adjuster on your claim is paid by somebody. The company adjuster is an insurance company employee. An independent adjuster is a contractor the insurer hires, usually when a storm buries it in claims. Both report to the insurer.
A public adjuster is the only one paid by you.
That's not a knock on company adjusters. Plenty of them are fair. But their job is to close your claim at a number their employer accepts, and nobody on that side is paid to hunt for coverage you forgot to claim. Insurance carriers have estimators and lawyers on staff; a homeowner has a phone and a stack of paperwork. Hiring someone who works your side evens out the playing field. More in public adjuster vs. insurance adjuster.
What the Work Actually Looks Like
It starts with the insurance policy, not the damage. A good public adjuster reads the whole policy, endorsements included, looking for benefits the insurer's first estimate skipped: debris removal, code upgrades, additional living expenses, and damaged personal property in rooms that never burned.
Next comes their own loss estimate, line by line, plus a contents inventory. They file the claim paperwork and sit in on inspections. Every call and letter from the insurance company goes to them. For a family living in a hotel, handing off the claims process can be worth as much as the money.
Questions about your property claim? A licensed Connecticut public adjuster will review it free.
Get a free reviewHow Public Adjusters Are Licensed
Public adjusting is regulated state by state, and most states require a license. In 2005 the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) gave states a common template, the Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act, and states adopted it unevenly. Florida, for one, requires a $50,000 surety bond. Many adjusters also join the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), a trade group with its own ethics code. Membership is optional. The state license isn't.
Connecticut licenses public adjusters through the Connecticut Insurance Department. Anyone who advertises or solicits as a public adjuster needs that license, and working without one can bring a fine of up to $10,000. State law also sets conduct rules: a written contract is mandatory, the adjuster has to show the license and say they don't represent any insurance company, soliciting between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. is banned, and they can't hold a stake in a construction or salvage firm that might work your loss. Before hiring, look the adjuster up with the Insurance Department and confirm the license is in good standing.
When It's Worth Hiring One, and When It Isn't
Large losses. A total home loss. Hidden damage behind walls or under floors. A claim the insurer has already undervalued or denied. Those are where a second set of eyes is most likely to find money the first estimate missed, and where running the claim yourself is hardest.
Skip it for a small, clear claim the insurer is paying promptly. A 10% fee on an already fair settlement just costs you 10%. See when to hire a public adjuster and what one costs.
Questions People Ask
Is a Public Adjuster Worth It?
It depends on the gap between the insurer's offer and what the loss is really worth. If the gap is bigger than the fee, usually yes. The underpaid claim calculator on this site runs that math with your numbers.
Do Public Adjusters Really Raise Payouts by 500% or More?
You'll see 500% and 750% figures in public adjuster marketing. We can't verify where they come from, so we don't repeat them as fact. No honest adjuster can promise an increase before reading your policy and seeing the damage.
How Do I Check a Public Adjuster's License in Connecticut?
Use the Connecticut Insurance Department's license lookup and confirm the license is active and in good standing. Ask the adjuster for the license number before you sign anything.
Get a Free Review of Your Property Claim
A licensed Connecticut public adjuster will look at your policy and the insurer's numbers. You'll hear back the way you ask, usually within one business day.
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