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Public adjusters in New Jersey: rules, fees and licensed firms

Public adjusters in New Jersey must be licensed by the state. Here are the rules that protect you, with sources, and 15 firms with a license record in New Jersey.

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Licensing and how to check a license

Anyone who acts for a homeowner in negotiating or settling a property insurance claim for a fee must hold a New Jersey public adjuster license from DOBI.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-2, 17:22B-3(a); N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.3(a) ↗
Look up the adjuster or firm by name or reference number in DOBI's NJDOBI Licensee Search (for insurance licensees it hands off to the NAIC State Based Systems lookup), which shows license type and status; the adjuster's license number must also be printed on the contract.Source ↗

Fee limits

New Jersey sets no fixed percentage cap on public adjuster fees, but the contract must list the services and the maximum fee, and the fee must be reasonably related to the services actually provided.N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.13(b)3ii ↗
DOBI has warned adjusters that it will act against fees that are excessive or not reasonably related to the work, that disasters are no reason to raise fees, and that adjusters must be able to back up a fee with time and expense records.DOBI Bulletin No. 12-16 (Dec. 20, 2012) ↗
If the adjuster is paid a percentage of a claim on your primary or secondary home and the insurer pays in two or more installments, the contract cannot let the adjuster take the whole fee out of the first payment.P.L.2025, c.84, sec. 2(c)(1) (N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13.1) ↗
An adjuster may not collect any fee other than the one agreed to in the written contract.N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.14(a)8 ↗

Your right to cancel

You may cancel a public adjuster contract without penalty before midnight of the third business day after signing, owing only reasonable emergency out-of-pocket expenses you approved (itemized), with anything you paid returned within 10 business days; after that you can still end the contract at any time, but you owe a fee, paid from your insurance proceeds, for the reasonable value of the documented work already done.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(c)(2) and 17:22B-13.1(a)(10)(c), (b), as added by P.L.2025, c.84 (effective about Dec. 28, 2025) ↗

When adjusters may contact you

During the first 24 hours after a loss, a public adjuster may not solicit you in person, by phone or by any other method between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(a); N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.13(c), 11:1-37.14(a)15 ↗
During that same window (6 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the first 24 hours after the loss), a public adjuster may not sign you to a contract, written or oral.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(b); N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.13(d) ↗

What the contract must include

An adjuster can only be paid under a written contract signed by you and the adjuster that shows the adjuster's license number (and the firm's), clearly describes the services and the fee, and states your right to cancel or terminate.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(c), as amended by P.L.2025, c.84 ↗
The contract must be titled 'Public Adjuster Contract' and include the adjuster's and firm's name, license number, phone, email and address; your name and address; a description and location of the loss; your insurer and policy number if known; the full fee; a description of services; both signatures; and the date and time each party signed.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13.1(a)(1)-(9) (P.L.2025, c.84, sec. 2) ↗
The contract must include a separate 'Notice of Right to Cancel or Terminate' form, and must state that any services will be accounted for with a record of the work performed.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13.1(a)(10), (b) (P.L.2025, c.84, sec. 2) ↗
The contract must be signed in duplicate and you must get a fully signed copy right away, while the adjuster keeps the other original available for DOBI inspection.N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.13(b)1-2; N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13.1(a) ↗
The contract must follow New Jersey's Consumer Contracts (plain language) Act and, where it applies, the FTC's door-to-door sales cooling-off rule.N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.13(b)4 ↗
For percentage-fee contracts on your primary or secondary home, the contract may not require the insurer to make checks payable only to the adjuster, and may not bar you or the adjuster from going to court.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13.1(c)(2)-(3) (P.L.2025, c.84, sec. 2) ↗

Other key rules

You do not need a public adjuster to file or settle a claim with your insurance company.DOBI storm claims guidance (press release, July 18, 2025) ↗
Any claim money an adjuster receives for you must go into an escrow account at a federally insured New Jersey bank and belongs to you until paid out under the contract; if the adjuster goes bankrupt, that money is held in trust for you.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(f), as amended by P.L.2025, c.84 ↗
A public adjuster may not misrepresent facts or give you legal advice.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(e); N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.14(a)13 ↗
No adjuster may talk you into cancelling a contract you already signed with another public adjuster.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-13(d); N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.14(a)12 ↗
Each licensed public adjuster (and each sublicensee) must carry a $10,000 bond payable to the State that protects anyone harmed by the adjuster's willful or wrongful acts.N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.9 ↗
DOBI can suspend or revoke an adjuster's license and fine up to $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for each later one, plus order restitution to consumers.N.J.S.A. 17:22B-14, 17:22B-17; N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.14 ↗
If you have a problem with an insurer or adjuster, you can call DOBI's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-446-7467 or file a complaint online.DOBI storm claims guidance (press release, July 18, 2025) ↗

Rules checked 2026-10-20 against state statutes and New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) ↗. Laws change; always confirm with the regulator. General information, not legal advice.

Licensed public adjusting firms in New Jersey

Public adjusters in New Jersey: rules, fees and licensed firms

Licensing and how to check a license

Fee limits

Your right to cancel

When adjusters may contact you

What the contract must include

Other key rules

Licensed public adjusting firms in New Jersey

A Plus Public Adjusters

Adjustify Solutions

Atlantic Insurance Adjusters, Inc.

Crestview Public Adjusters

Eastern Public LLC

Eclipse Claims Consulting, LLC

Elite 1-800-ADJUSTERS, Inc. (1800Adjusters)

Gillespie Public Adjusters

Global Patriot Adjusters LLC

Interstate Public Adjusters LLC

Julie Ann Lubarsky, Public Adjuster

Key Public Adjuster, LLC (Public Adjuster Ben)

Liberty Public Adjusters LLC

Property Adjustment Corporation

Ultimate Adjusters, Inc.