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When two appraisers in a property insurance dispute cannot agree, or in some cases before they even begin their work, many policies call for a neutral third party called an umpire to be brought into the process. Understanding how that selection typically happens can make the step feel less mysterious.
In most cases, the two party appointed appraisers are the ones who select the umpire together. They may propose candidates to each other, review qualifications and experience, and try to agree on someone both consider fair and capable.
Many policies describe the umpire the same way they describe the appraisers, as someone who should be competent and disinterested, meaning qualified for the type of loss involved and without a personal or financial stake in the outcome beyond their fee.
If the two appraisers cannot agree on an umpire within a reasonable time, many policies provide a fallback, often allowing either party to ask a court in the relevant jurisdiction to appoint one. This court involvement is usually limited to the umpire selection step itself, not the underlying valuation dispute.
Because umpire selection procedures can differ from policy to policy and from state to state, reviewing the specific appraisal clause in your own policy is the best way to understand exactly how the process would work for the claim.
The material above is general education about how property insurance appraisal commonly works, not legal advice; specific procedures differ by state and policy. If you have questions about your own claim, review your policy language and talk with the insurance company, agent, or an attorney familiar with your state’s laws.
Russ Lis works nationwide as a property insurance appraiser and umpire, based in Minnesota. Have a question about your own claim? Contact Appraisal Resolution.
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