Most of the time, two appraisers are able to agree on a neutral umpire without much difficulty. But when they cannot, the appraisal process does not simply stall out. Most policies include a specific fallback procedure for exactly this situation.
The most common fallback is court appointment. Many appraisal clauses state that if the appraisers fail to agree on an umpire within a set period, either party may petition a court in the relevant jurisdiction to appoint one on their behalf.
This type of court involvement is typically narrow in scope. The court is usually only being asked to name a qualified, disinterested umpire, not to resolve the underlying dispute over the dollar amount of the loss itself.
Some policies specify a particular process or timeframe for this step, such as requiring the request to be made within a certain number of days after the appraisers first attempt and fail to agree, so reviewing the specific policy language matters here as well.
While this step can add time to the overall process, it exists specifically to prevent a disagreement over the umpire from permanently blocking the appraisal process. Once an umpire is in place, whether by agreement or court appointment, the evaluation of the loss can move forward.
This article is general education about how the appraisal process commonly works. It is not legal advice, and specific procedures can vary by state and policy. If you have questions about your own claim, review your policy language and talk with your insurance company, agent, or an attorney familiar with your state’s laws.
Russ Lis is a working property insurance appraiser and umpire based in Minnesota, serving clients nationwide. Have a question about your own claim? Contact Appraisal Resolution.