At a glance
- Name an appraiser
- Twenty days after the written demand.
- Choose an umpire
- Fifteen days; then either party may apply to the circuit court where the property sits to appoint a competent and disinterested umpire (§ 38.2-2121).
- If they cannot agree
- The circuit court for the county or city where the property is located, on application of either party.
- Suit deadline paused?
- No. Demanding appraisal does not pause the deadline to sue under the policy. Note that deadline before you demand appraisal.
- Licensing
- No license, but Va. Code § 38.2-2122 requires each appraiser and the umpire to take an oath that they are not employed by, and not related to, either party.
The clock
- Day 0 Written demand Either party. Certified mail.
- By day 20 Appraisers named 20 days for each side
- By day 35 Umpire chosen 15 days, or a judge appoints
- On site Inspection Both estimates, line by line
- The award Award signed Any two of three
- After filing Payment Commonly within 60 days
- Day 0 Written demand Either party. Certified mail.
- By day 20 Appraisers named 20 days for each side
- By day 35 Umpire chosen 15 days, or a judge appoints
- On site Inspection Both estimates, line by line
- The award Award signed Any two of three
- After filing Payment Commonly within 60 days
Appraisal in Virginia begins with a written demand from one party to the other. The deadlines in the table above run from that demand: first the period to name an appraiser, then the period for the two appraisers to agree on an umpire. Send the demand by certified mail with return receipt, and keep a copy with the policy.
Once the panel is complete, the appraisers inspect the property, prepare their estimates and work through the differences line by line. Only what they cannot settle goes to the umpire.
On the deadline to sue: No. Demanding appraisal does not pause the deadline to sue under the policy. Note that deadline before you demand appraisal.
What the panel decides
Amount of loss. Appraisers do not decide whether the policy covers the loss, interpret policy language, or rule on bad faith. Those questions stay with the courts.
Everywhere, including Virginia, the panel leaves alone whether the policy covers the loss, how the policy language is read, and whether the carrier acted in bad faith. Those are for the courts. An award that strays into them is the one most likely to be set aside.
Who may serve
No license, but Va. Code § 38.2-2122 requires each appraiser and the umpire to take an oath that they are not employed by, and not related to, either party.
Whatever the statute says, the policy standard is the one that decides most challenges: an appraiser must be competent and impartial, or in some forms disinterested. The contractor who will do the work, a public adjuster paid a share of the claim, or anyone employed by a party does not meet it. We are paid a flat fee for that reason.
The award
Binding as the contract provides. Appraisal is not arbitration in Virginia, so the Uniform Arbitration Act cannot be used to modify an award (Church Mutual Ins. Co. v. Ephesus Richmond SDA Church, Va. Ct. App. 2025).
Points particular to Virginia
Virginia follows the common form without notable departures. The general guide to how appraisal works applies as written.
Common losses in Virginia
The disputes we see most often in Virginia arise from:
- Hurricane and tropical storm
- Wind and hail
- Water and burst pipes
- Winter storm
Flood is insured separately, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program, under federal rules rather than Virginia's. Its appraisal clause settles price only, and its deadlines are its own. How a flood claim works
Authorities
- Va. Code § 38.2-2105
- Va. Code § 38.2-2121
- Va. Code § 38.2-2122
- The general guide to insurance appraisal
Statutes, regulations and case law change. This page was reviewed against official sources in October 2026 and describes the general rule; it is not legal advice about your claim.
Questions about appraisal in Virginia
Does my Virginia homeowners policy have an appraisal clause?
Almost certainly.
In Virginia the appraisal clause is written into state law (Va. Code § 38.2-2105; § 38.2-2121; § 38.2-2122), so fire and homeowners policies must include it. You will find it under the policy's conditions, usually under the heading Appraisal.
How long do we have to name an appraiser in Virginia?
Twenty days after the written demand.
Who chooses the umpire in Virginia if the appraisers cannot agree?
The circuit court for the county or city where the property is located, on application of either party.
Can the appraisers decide whether my loss is covered in Virginia?
Amount of loss.
Appraisers do not decide whether the policy covers the loss, interpret policy language, or rule on bad faith. Those questions stay with the courts.
Does demanding appraisal pause the deadline to sue in Virginia?
No. Demanding appraisal does not pause the deadline to sue under the policy.
Note that deadline before you demand appraisal.
Do appraisers need a license in Virginia?
No license, but Va.
Code § 38.2-2122 requires each appraiser and the umpire to take an oath that they are not employed by, and not related to, either party.
Nearby: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia