Title XXXVII, Insurance

(1) After a license as a title insurance agent has been issued to a title insurance agent, the agent is not required to file another license application for a similar license, irrespective of the number of insurers to be represented by the agent, unless:(a) The agent is specifica…

(1) Appointments of a title insurance agent and a title insurance agency shall continue in force until suspended, revoked, or otherwise terminated, but subject to a renewed request filed by the insurer every 24 months after the original issue dates of the appointments, accompanie…

(1) Any title insurer that is terminating the appointment of a title insurance agent or title insurance agency, whether such termination is by direct action of the appointing title insurer or by failure to renew or continue the appointment as provided, shall file with the departm…

The department shall deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any title insurance agent or agency, and it shall suspend or revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of such person, if it finds that as to the applicant, lice…

The department may, in its discretion, deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any title insurance agent or agency, and it may suspend or revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of any such title insurance agent or agenc…

(1) The department shall, in its order suspending a title insurance agent’s or agency’s license or appointment or in its order suspending the eligibility of a person to hold or apply for such license or appointment, specify the period during which the suspension is to be in effec…

In case of the suspension or revocation of the license and appointment of any title insurance agent or title insurance agency, the licenses and appointments of all other title insurance agents who knowingly were parties to the act that formed the ground for such suspension or rev…

All certificates of licenses issued under this act are at all times the property of the state; and, upon notice by the department to the licensee of a suspension, revocation, refusal to renew, failure to renew, or expiration of a license or appointment, or upon termination of the…

A person who knowingly makes a false or otherwise fraudulent application for a license or appointment under this act, or who knowingly violates any provision of s. 624.5015, ss. 626.8417-626.847, or s. 627.791, in addition to any applicable denial, suspension, revocation, or refu…

(1) If the department finds that one or more grounds exist for the suspension of, revocation of, or refusal to renew or continue any license or appointment issued under this act, the department may, in its discretion, in lieu of suspension, revocation, or refusal, and except on a…

(1) If the department finds that one or more grounds exist for the suspension of, revocation of, or refusal to renew or continue any license or appointment issued under this act, the department may, except when an administrative fine is not permissible under s. 626.8457 or when s…

(1) As to the subject of any examination, investigation, or hearing being conducted by him or her under s. 624.5015, ss. 626.8417-626.847, or s. 627.791, an examiner appointed by the department or office may administer oaths, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and receive oral …

(1) If a person asks to be excused from attending or testifying or from producing any books, papers, records, contracts, documents, or other evidence in connection with any examination, hearing, or investigation being conducted under s. 624.5015, ss. 626.8417-626.847, or s. 627.7…

A person who refuses or fails, without lawful cause, to testify relative to the affairs of any title insurer or other person when subpoenaed under s. 626.8463 and requested by the department or office to so testify is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree and, upon convict…

(1) A title insurance agency may engage in business as an escrow agent as to funds received from others to be subsequently disbursed in connection with real estate closing transactions involving the issuance of title commitments, policies of title insurance, or guarantees of titl…

This part may be referred to in any legal proceedings as the “Insurance Adjusters Law.”History.—s. 315, ch. 59-205; s. 3, ch. 81-282; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 293, 807, 810, ch. 82-243; ss. 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

(1) This part applies only to insurance adjusters as defined in this part.(2) Unless otherwise required by context, the term “adjusters” as used in this part applies to all licensees defined as any type of adjuster.(3) This part does not apply as to life insurance or annuity cont…

This part is supplementary to part I, the “Licensing Procedures Law.”History.—s. 316, ch. 59-205; s. 3, ch. 81-282; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 293, 807, 810, ch. 82-243; ss. 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

The Legislature finds that it is necessary for the protection of the public to regulate public insurance adjusters and to prevent the unauthorized practice of law.(1) A “public adjuster” is any person, except a duly licensed attorney at law as exempted under s. 626.860, who, for …

An “all-lines adjuster” is a person who, for money, commission, or any other thing of value, directly or indirectly undertakes on behalf of a public adjuster or an insurer to ascertain and determine the amount of any claim, loss, or damage payable under an insurance contract or u…

An “independent adjuster” means a person licensed as an all-lines adjuster who is self-appointed or appointed and employed by an independent adjusting firm or other independent adjuster, and who undertakes on behalf of an insurer to ascertain and determine the amount of any claim…

A “company employee adjuster” means a person licensed as an all-lines adjuster who is appointed and employed on an insurer’s staff of adjusters or a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurer, and who undertakes on behalf of such insurer or other insurers under common control or owne…

The term “public adjuster apprentice” means a person licensed as an all-lines adjuster who:(1) Is appointed and employed or contracted by a public adjusting firm;(2) Assists the public adjusting firm in ascertaining and determining the amount of any claim, loss, or damage payable…

A “nonresident public adjuster” is a person who:(1) Is not a resident of this state;(2) Is a currently licensed public adjuster in his or her state of residence for the type or kinds of insurance for which the licensee intends to adjust claims in this state or, if a resident of a…

A “nonresident all-lines adjuster” means a person who:(1) Is not a resident of this state;(2) Is currently licensed as an adjuster in his or her state of residence for all lines of insurance except life and annuities or, if a resident of a state that does not license such adjuste…

A “catastrophe” or “emergency” adjuster is a person who is not a licensed adjuster under this part, but who has been designated and certified to the department by insurers as qualified to adjust claims, losses, or damages under policies or contracts of insurance issued by such in…

Attorneys at law duly licensed to practice law in the courts of this state, and in good standing with The Florida Bar, shall not be required to be licensed under the provisions of this code to authorize them to adjust or participate in the adjustment of any claim, loss, or damage…

1(1) This part may not be construed to prevent an executive officer of any insurer, an employee of an insurer handling claims with respect to health insurance, an employee of an insurer handling claims with respect to residential property insurance in which the amount of coverage…

A licensed and appointed insurance agent may, without being licensed as an adjuster, adjust losses for the insurer represented by him or her as agent if so authorized by the insurer. The license and appointment of the agent may be suspended or revoked for violation of or miscondu…

(1) An employee of the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association, created under part II of chapter 631, may adjust losses for the association if such employee holds, or has held within the past 10 years, licensure in this state which allows for the adjustment of such losses.(2) An e…

(1) An insurer may not knowingly refer any claim or loss for adjustment in this state to any person purporting to be or acting as an independent adjuster unless the person is currently licensed as an all-lines adjuster and appointed as an independent adjuster under this code.(2) …

(1) A qualified individual may be licensed as:(a) A public adjuster; or(b) An all-lines adjuster.(2) The same individual may not be concurrently licensed as a public adjuster and an all-lines adjuster.(3) An all-lines adjuster may be appointed as an independent adjuster, public a…

(1) The department shall issue a license to an applicant for a public adjuster’s license upon determining that the applicant has paid the applicable fees specified in s. 624.501 and possesses the following qualifications:(a) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.(b) Is a U…

(1)(a) The department shall issue an appointment as a public adjuster apprentice to a licensee who:1. Is licensed as an all-lines adjuster under s. 626.866;2. Has filed with the department a bond executed and issued by a surety insurer that is authorized to transact such business…

The department shall issue an all-lines adjuster license to an applicant upon determining that the applicable license fee specified in s. 624.501 has been paid and that the applicant possesses the following qualifications:(1) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.(2) Is a …

(1) This part does not apply to any individual who collects claims information from, or furnishes claims information to, insureds or claimants, and who conducts data entry, including entering data into an automated claims adjudication system, provided that the individual is an em…

(1) Having a license as an all-lines adjuster qualifies the licensee to adjust all lines of insurance except life and annuities.(2) All individuals who on October 1, 1990, hold an adjuster’s license and appointment limited to fire and allied lines, including marine or casualty or…

(1) Each business location established by an adjuster, an adjusting firm, a corporation, or an association must designate with the department a primary adjuster who is licensed and appointed to adjust the insurance claims adjusted by the business location.(2) An adjusting firm an…

(1) The application for an adjusting firm license must include:(a) The name of each majority owner, partner, officer, and director of the adjusting firm.(b) The resident address of each person required to be listed in the application under paragraph (a).(c) The name of the adjust…

(1) The department shall deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to continue the license of any adjusting firm if it finds, as to any adjusting firm or as to any majority owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person who manages or controls the firm, that any of the follow…

The department may deny, suspend, or revoke the license of a public adjuster or public adjuster apprentice, and administer a fine not to exceed $5,000 per act, for any of the following:(1) Violating any provision of this chapter or a rule or order of the department;(2) Receiving …

(1) Application for a license under this part shall be made as provided in s. 626.171 and related sections of this code.(2) The department shall so prepare the form of the application as to elicit and require from the applicant the information necessary to enable the department t…

The department may, without requiring a further written examination, issue an appointment as an adjuster to a formerly licensed and appointed adjuster of this state who held a current adjuster’s appointment at the time of entering service in the Armed Forces of the United States,…

(1) The department shall, upon application therefor, issue a license to an applicant for a nonresident public adjuster’s license upon determining that the applicant has paid the applicable license fees required under s. 624.501 and:(a) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age…

(1) The department shall issue a license to an applicant for a nonresident all-lines adjuster license upon determining that the applicant has paid the applicable license fees required under s. 624.501 and:(a) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.(b) Has passed to the sati…

(1) Each licensed nonresident public adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an independent adjuster shall appoint the Chief Financial Officer and his or her successors in office as his or her attorney to receive service of legal process issued against such adjuster in this s…