{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/38.2-1845.14.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/38.2-1845.14.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/38.2-1845.14.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/38.2-1845.14.html"}],"law_id":76560,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76560,"structure_id":14212,"section_number":"38.2-1845.14","catch_line":"Fees","history":"2012, cc. 734, 735.","full_text":"A\n\nNo public adjuster shall require, demand, or accept any fee, retainer, compensation, deposit, or thing of value prior to the settlement of a claim.B\n\nExcept as provided in subsection C, no public adjuster shall charge, agree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission, fee, or other thing of value that is not fair and reasonable in relation to the work performed. Any such commission, fee, or other thing of value shall include any expenses incurred by the public adjuster in the estimating and settlement of any claim.C\n\nIn the event of a catastrophic disaster, no public adjuster shall charge, agree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission, fee, or other thing of value equal to more than 10 percent of any insurance settlement proceeds. Any such commission, fee, or other thing of value shall include any expenses incurred by the public adjuster as part of the estimating and settlement of any claim.D\n\nNo public adjuster shall charge a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration based, in whole or in part, on an amount paid to the insured by the insurer prior to the date of the written contract between the insured and the public adjuster.E\n\nA public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that allows the public adjuster’s percentage fee to be collected when money is due from an insurer, but not paid, or that allows a public adjuster to collect the entire fee from the first check issued by an insurer, rather than as a percentage of each check issued by an insurer.F\n\nA public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that requires the insured to authorize an insurer to issue a check only in the name of the public adjuster.G\n\nA public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that imposes collection costs or late fees.H\n\nThe public adjuster’s contract may specify that the public adjuster shall be named as a copayee on an insurer’s payment of a claim, provided that (i) if the compensation is based on a share of the insurance settlement, the exact percentage shall be specified and (ii) initial expenses to be reimbursed to the public adjuster from the proceeds of the claim payment shall be specified by type, with dollar estimates set forth in the contract and with any additional expenses first approved by the insured.I\n\nIf the insurer, not later than 72 hours after the date on which the loss is reported to the insurer, either pays or commits in writing to pay to the insured the policy limit of the insurance policy, the public adjuster shall (i) not receive a commission consisting of a percentage of the total amount paid by an insurer to resolve a claim, (ii) inform the insured that the loss recovery amount represents the maximum amount recoverable under the policy, and (iii) be entitled only to reasonable compensation from the insured for services provided by the public adjuster on behalf of the insured, based on the time spent on a claim and expenses incurred by the public adjuster.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":274847,"text":"No public adjuster shall require, demand, or accept any fee, retainer, compensation, deposit, or thing of value prior to the settlement of a claim.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":274848,"text":"Except as provided in subsection C, no public adjuster shall charge, agree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission, fee, or other thing of value that is not fair and reasonable in relation to the work performed. Any such commission, fee, or other thing of value shall include any expenses incurred by the public adjuster in the estimating and settlement of any claim.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":274849,"text":"In the event of a catastrophic disaster, no public adjuster shall charge, agree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission, fee, or other thing of value equal to more than 10 percent of any insurance settlement proceeds. Any such commission, fee, or other thing of value shall include any expenses incurred by the public adjuster as part of the estimating and settlement of any claim.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":274850,"text":"No public adjuster shall charge a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration based, in whole or in part, on an amount paid to the insured by the insurer prior to the date of the written contract between the insured and the public adjuster.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":274851,"text":"A public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that allows the public adjuster’s percentage fee to be collected when money is due from an insurer, but not paid, or that allows a public adjuster to collect the entire fee from the first check issued by an insurer, rather than as a percentage of each check issued by an insurer.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":274852,"text":"A public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that requires the insured to authorize an insurer to issue a check only in the name of the public adjuster.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":274853,"text":"A public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that imposes collection costs or late fees.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":274854,"text":"The public adjuster’s contract may specify that the public adjuster shall be named as a copayee on an insurer’s payment of a claim, provided that (i) if the compensation is based on a share of the insurance settlement, the exact percentage shall be specified and (ii) initial expenses to be reimbursed to the public adjuster from the proceeds of the claim payment shall be specified by type, with dollar estimates set forth in the contract and with any additional expenses first approved by the insured.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"8":{"id":274855,"text":"If the insurer, not later than 72 hours after the date on which the loss is reported to the insurer, either pays or commits in writing to pay to the insured the policy limit of the insurance policy, the public adjuster shall (i) not receive a commission consisting of a percentage of the total amount paid by an insurer to resolve a claim, (ii) inform the insured that the loss recovery amount represents the maximum amount recoverable under the policy, and (iii) be entitled only to reasonable compensation from the insured for services provided by the public adjuster on behalf of the insured, based on the time spent on a claim and expenses incurred by the public adjuster.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14212,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensing of Public Adjusters","identifier":"4.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13203,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:17","permalink":{"id":212641,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14212,"identifier":"4.1","token":"38.2\/18\/4.1","url":"\/38.2\/18\/4.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13203,"edition_id":1,"name":"Insurance Agents","identifier":"18","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12698,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 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This law was first created in 2012. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 734<\/a> and 735<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":67841,"section_number":"38.2-1845.13","catch_line":"Contract between public adjuster and insured","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-1845.13\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":212663,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76560,"identifier":"38.2-1845.14","token":"38.2\/18\/4.1\/38.2-1845.14","url":"\/38.2-1845.14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/38.2-1845.14\/","token":"38.2\/18\/4.1\/38.2-1845.14","dublin_core":{"Title":"Fees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 38.2-1845.14","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No public adjuster<\/span> shall require, demand, or accept any fee, retainer, compensation, deposit, or thing of value prior to the settlement<\/span> of a claim. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Except as provided in subsection C, no public adjuster<\/span> shall charge, agree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission<\/span>, fee, or other thing of value that is not fair and reasonable in relation to the work performed. Any such commission<\/span>, fee, or other thing of value shall include any expenses incurred by the public adjuster<\/span> in the estimating and settlement<\/span> of any claim. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In the event of a catastrophic disaster<\/span>, no public adjuster<\/span> shall charge, agree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission<\/span>, fee, or other thing of value equal to more than 10 percent of any insurance<\/span> settlement<\/span> proceeds. Any such commission<\/span>, fee, or other thing of value shall include any expenses incurred by the public adjuster<\/span> as part of the estimating and settlement<\/span> of any claim. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> No public adjuster<\/span> shall charge a fee, commission<\/span>, or other valuable consideration based, in whole or in part, on an amount paid to the insured by the insurer<\/span> prior to the date of the written contract<\/span> between the insured and the public adjuster<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A public adjuster<\/span>’s contract<\/span> may not contain a provision that allows the public adjuster<\/span>’s percentage fee to be collected when money is due from an insurer<\/span>, but not paid, or that allows a public adjuster<\/span> to collect the entire fee from the first check issued by an insurer<\/span>, rather than as a percentage of each check issued by an insurer<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> A public adjuster<\/span>’s contract<\/span> may not contain a provision that requires the insured to authorize an insurer<\/span> to issue<\/span> a check only in the name of the public adjuster<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> A public adjuster<\/span>’s contract<\/span> may not contain a provision that imposes collection costs or late fees. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> The public adjuster<\/span>’s contract<\/span> may specify that the public adjuster<\/span> shall be named as a copayee on an insurer<\/span>’s payment of a claim, provided that (i) if the compensation is based on a share of the insurance<\/span> settlement<\/span>, the exact percentage shall be specified and (ii) initial expenses to be reimbursed to the public adjuster<\/span> from the proceeds of the claim payment shall be specified by type, with dollar estimates set forth in the contract<\/span> and with any additional expenses first approved by the insured. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> If the insurer<\/span>, not later than 72 hours after the date on which the loss is reported to the insurer<\/span>, either pays or commits in writing to pay to the insured the policy limit of the insurance<\/span> policy, the public adjuster<\/span> shall (i) not receive a commission<\/span> consisting of a percentage of the total amount paid by an insurer<\/span> to resolve a claim, (ii) inform the insured that the loss recovery amount represents the maximum amount recoverable under the policy, and (iii) be entitled only to reasonable compensation from the insured for services provided by the public adjuster<\/span> on behalf of the insured, based on the time spent on a claim and expenses incurred by the public adjuster<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFEES (\u00a7 38.2-1845.14)\n\nA. No public adjuster shall require, demand, or accept any fee, retainer,\ncompensation, deposit, or thing of value prior to the settlement of a claim.\n\nB. Except as provided in subsection C, no public adjuster shall charge, agree\nto, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission, fee, or\nother thing of value that is not fair and reasonable in relation to the work\nperformed. Any such commission, fee, or other thing of value shall include any\nexpenses incurred by the public adjuster in the estimating and settlement of any\nclaim.\n\nC. In the event of a catastrophic disaster, no public adjuster shall charge,\nagree to, or accept as compensation or reimbursement any payment, commission,\nfee, or other thing of value equal to more than 10 percent of any insurance\nsettlement proceeds. Any such commission, fee, or other thing of value shall\ninclude any expenses incurred by the public adjuster as part of the estimating\nand settlement of any claim.\n\nD. No public adjuster shall charge a fee, commission, or other valuable\nconsideration based, in whole or in part, on an amount paid to the insured by\nthe insurer prior to the date of the written contract between the insured and\nthe public adjuster.\n\nE. A public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that allows\nthe public adjuster’s percentage fee to be collected when money is due\nfrom an insurer, but not paid, or that allows a public adjuster to collect the\nentire fee from the first check issued by an insurer, rather than as a\npercentage of each check issued by an insurer.\n\nF. A public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that requires\nthe insured to authorize an insurer to issue a check only in the name of the\npublic adjuster.\n\nG. A public adjuster’s contract may not contain a provision that imposes\ncollection costs or late fees.\n\nH. The public adjuster’s contract may specify that the public adjuster\nshall be named as a copayee on an insurer’s payment of a claim, provided\nthat (i) if the compensation is based on a share of the insurance settlement,\nthe exact percentage shall be specified and (ii) initial expenses to be\nreimbursed to the public adjuster from the proceeds of the claim payment shall\nbe specified by type, with dollar estimates set forth in the contract and with\nany additional expenses first approved by the insured.\n\nI. If the insurer, not later than 72 hours after the date on which the loss is\nreported to the insurer, either pays or commits in writing to pay to the insured\nthe policy limit of the insurance policy, the public adjuster shall (i) not\nreceive a commission consisting of a percentage of the total amount paid by an\ninsurer to resolve a claim, (ii) inform the insured that the loss recovery\namount represents the maximum amount recoverable under the policy, and (iii) be\nentitled only to reasonable compensation from the insured for services provided\nby the public adjuster on behalf of the insured, based on the time spent on a\nclaim and expenses incurred by the public adjuster.\n\nHISTORY: 2012, cc. 734, 735.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}