Appraiser and Umpire Impartiality Standards by State
The independence standard appraisers and umpires must meet, from competent-and-disinterested policy language to statutory conflict and disclosure rules.
9 states have a researched rule on impartiality, drawn from statutes, court decisions and administrative rules, with 2 court decisions on the subject. Other states are not yet reviewed.
| State | Rule |
|---|---|
| California | Competent and disinterested |
| Colorado | Impartial means no advocacy |
| Illinois | Competent and disinterested (auto) |
| Iowa | Competent and disinterested; conflicts disclosed |
| Louisiana | Independent and qualified; conflicts disclosed |
| Minnesota | Competent and disinterested |
| Oklahoma | Competent and disinterested |
| South Carolina | Appraisers are not advocates |
| Texas | TWIA: umpire qualifications and conflicts set by rule |
California
Competent and disinterested. California's standard form fire policy requires each party to select a competent and disinterested appraiser; the two appraisers then select an umpire (Ins. Code §2071).
Full California entry · verified October 20, 2026
Colorado
Impartial means no advocacy. In Owners Insurance Co. v. Dakota Station II Condominium Ass'n, 2019 CO 65, the court held that a policy requiring each party to select an "impartial" appraiser requires appraisers to be "unbiased, disinterested, and unswayed by personal interest." They "must not favor one side more than another, so they may not advocate for either party." The ruling construes the policy language before the court.
- Court decision Owners Insurance Co. v. Dakota Station II Condominium Ass'n (2019 CO 65, 2019)
Full Colorado entry · verified October 20, 2026
Illinois
Competent and disinterested (auto). "Competent" means relevant expertise, training and experience in automobile damage valuation and claims practices; the umpire must be neutral, competent and disinterested (215 ILCS 5/398(a)).
Full Illinois entry · verified October 20, 2026
Iowa
Competent and disinterested; conflicts disclosed. Each appraiser attests in writing that they are competent and disinterested (§522F.14(2)), discloses any potential conflict within five business days of being hired, and withdraws within five business days if a conflict arises (§522F.7(2)). Conflicts include a personal financial interest in the outcome. An appraiser may not act, or have ever acted, as an adjuster or umpire on the same claim (§522F.7(11)).
Full Iowa entry · verified October 20, 2026
Louisiana
Independent and qualified; conflicts disclosed. Each side selects an appraiser "who is independent and qualified" (La. R.S. 22:1807.13). Appraisers and umpires must disclose potential conflicts no later than five days after being hired and before starting work, and the statute lists disqualifying conflicts, such as a family member who is a party or works for a party, or a pending lawsuit against the insurer (§1807.14, §1807.16, §1807.17). Separate communications with the umpire are prohibited except for listed logistical matters (§1807.22).
- Statutes La. R.S. 22:1807.13 (Appraisal process); La. R.S. 22:1807.14 (Appraiser qualifications; conflicts of interest); La. R.S. 22:1807.16 (Appraiser obligations); La. R.S. 22:1807.17 (Umpire qualifications; conflicts of interest); La. R.S. 22:1807.22 (Prohibited communications)
Full Louisiana entry · verified October 20, 2026
Minnesota
Competent and disinterested. Each party selects "a competent and disinterested appraiser" (Minn. Stat. §65A.01, subd. 3).
Full Minnesota entry · verified October 20, 2026
Oklahoma
Competent and disinterested. On written demand, each party selects "a competent and disinterested appraiser"; the appraisers first select "a competent and disinterested umpire" (36 O.S. §4803(G)).
Full Oklahoma entry · verified October 20, 2026
South Carolina
Appraisers are not advocates. In L.D. Jennings Co. v. North River Insurance Co., 171 S.C. 548 (1934), the court, drawing on earlier precedent, observed that appraisers are not "agents, representatives, or advocates of the party by whom they are selected" and should exercise judicial impartiality. Allegations that an appraiser and the umpire adopted one side's figures without investigation stated a defense of partiality and bias.
- Court decision L.D. Jennings Co. v. North River Insurance Co. (171 S.C. 548, 1934)
Full South Carolina entry · verified October 20, 2026
Texas
TWIA: umpire qualifications and conflicts set by rule. A TWIA appraisal umpire must be an engineer or architect with property-damage experience, an adjuster or public adjuster with estimating experience, an experienced general contractor, a licensed attorney, or a current or former Texas judge, and must have no disqualifying conflict, such as working for TWIA or the claimant, an open claim with TWIA, a current lawsuit with TWIA, or having adjusted the loss (28 TAC §5.4214, effective February 14, 2013). TWIA claims only.
- Administrative rules 28 Tex. Admin. Code §5.4214 (TWIA appraisal umpire qualifications and conflicts), via Cornell LII
Full Texas entry · verified October 20, 2026
Other subjects: State license · Contingency fees · Umpire selection · Causation · Coverage · Award · Deadlines
Research, not legal advice. Each entry summarizes the linked statute, regulation, guidance or court decision as checked on the date shown. Laws change, policy wording controls, and courts in the same state can disagree. Read the source and consult a licensed attorney before relying on any entry. Coverage is not yet exhaustive: states marked "Not yet reviewed" have not been researched, not "no rule".
Frequently asked questions
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in California?
Competent and disinterested. California's standard form fire policy requires each party to select a competent and disinterested appraiser; the two appraisers then select an umpire (Ins. Code §2071).
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Colorado?
Impartial means no advocacy. In Owners Insurance Co. v. Dakota Station II Condominium Ass'n, 2019 CO 65, the court held that a policy requiring each party to select an "impartial" appraiser requires appraisers to be "unbiased, disinterested, and unswayed by personal interest." They "must not favor one side more than another, so they may not advocate for either party." The ruling construes the policy language before the court.
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Illinois?
Competent and disinterested (auto). "Competent" means relevant expertise, training and experience in automobile damage valuation and claims practices; the umpire must be neutral, competent and disinterested (215 ILCS 5/398(a)).
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Iowa?
Competent and disinterested; conflicts disclosed. Each appraiser attests in writing that they are competent and disinterested (§522F.14(2)), discloses any potential conflict within five business days of being hired, and withdraws within five business days if a conflict arises (§522F.7(2)). Conflicts include a personal financial interest in the outcome. An appraiser may not act, or have ever acted, as an adjuster or umpire on the same claim (§522F.7(11)).
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Louisiana?
Independent and qualified; conflicts disclosed. Each side selects an appraiser "who is independent and qualified" (La. R.S. 22:1807.13). Appraisers and umpires must disclose potential conflicts no later than five days after being hired and before starting work, and the statute lists disqualifying conflicts, such as a family member who is a party or works for a party, or a pending lawsuit against the insurer (§1807.14, §1807.16, §1807.17). Separate communications with the umpire are prohibited except for listed logistical matters (§1807.22).
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Minnesota?
Competent and disinterested. Each party selects "a competent and disinterested appraiser" (Minn. Stat. §65A.01, subd. 3).
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Oklahoma?
Competent and disinterested. On written demand, each party selects "a competent and disinterested appraiser"; the appraisers first select "a competent and disinterested umpire" (36 O.S. §4803(G)).
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in South Carolina?
Appraisers are not advocates. In L.D. Jennings Co. v. North River Insurance Co., 171 S.C. 548 (1934), the court, drawing on earlier precedent, observed that appraisers are not "agents, representatives, or advocates of the party by whom they are selected" and should exercise judicial impartiality. Allegations that an appraiser and the umpire adopted one side's figures without investigation stated a defense of partiality and bias.
What impartiality standard applies to appraisers in Texas?
TWIA: umpire qualifications and conflicts set by rule. A TWIA appraisal umpire must be an engineer or architect with property-damage experience, an adjuster or public adjuster with estimating experience, an experienced general contractor, a licensed attorney, or a current or former Texas judge, and must have no disqualifying conflict, such as working for TWIA or the claimant, an open claim with TWIA, a current lawsuit with TWIA, or having adjusted the loss (28 TAC §5.4214, effective February 14, 2013). TWIA claims only.