Who does a public adjuster represent?
Short answer. A public adjuster represents the policyholder, meaning you, the homeowner who hires them, not the insurance company. The insurer's staff and independent adjusters represent the insurer, so a public adjuster is the only adjuster on a claim whose job is to advocate for you, and they are paid by you out of the settlement.
What representing you means in practice
- Once you sign and notify the insurer, it typically communicates with the public adjuster about the claim.
- The public adjuster presents your estimate and supporting evidence.
- Your name stays on the claim and the checks, and you still make the final decisions and sign documents such as a proof of loss.
- Your own duties under the policy, such as protecting the property and allowing inspections, do not go away.
Who represents whom on a roof claim
- Insurer: staff adjusters, independent adjusters, desk adjusters, and any engineer it hires.
- You: yourself, a public adjuster, or an attorney.
- Your roofer: stands behind its own work. It can document damage, write an estimate, meet the adjuster, and submit supplements for the work, but Georgia law bars a residential roofing contractor from negotiating your claim on your behalf.
Conflicts to watch for
A public adjuster who steers you to one contractor, or a contractor who brings along its own public adjuster, may have a financial relationship you should ask about directly. Georgia lists prohibited public adjuster practices in O.C.G.A. 33-23-43.8, and the Commissioner takes complaints online. For the trade-offs, see public adjuster vs roofer in Georgia and what roof adjusters look for.