At a glance
- Name an appraiser
- Twenty days after the written demand.
- Choose an umpire
- If the two appraisers cannot agree within 15 days, either party may ask a judge of a court of record in the county where the property sits to choose the umpire.
- If they cannot agree
- A judge of a court of record in the county of the property, on request.
- 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 state license for property claim appraisers. The policy requires each appraiser to be competent and impartial (some forms say disinterested), which is why an appraiser paid by a share of the award is open to challenge.
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 West 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 West 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 state license for property claim appraisers. The policy requires each appraiser to be competent and impartial (some forms say disinterested), which is why an appraiser paid by a share of the award is open to challenge.
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
An award is treated as binding on the amount of loss. Courts set awards aside only on narrow grounds such as fraud, mistake, an appraiser exceeding the authority the clause gives, or a partial appraiser.
Points particular to West Virginia
West Virginia follows the common form without notable departures. The general guide to how appraisal works applies as written.
Common losses in West Virginia
The disputes we see most often in West Virginia arise from:
- Flood-adjacent water (flood is separate)
- Wind and derecho
- Winter storm and freeze
Flood is insured separately, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program, under federal rules rather than West Virginia's. Its appraisal clause settles price only, and its deadlines are its own. How a flood claim works
Authorities
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 West Virginia
Does my West Virginia homeowners policy have an appraisal clause?
Almost certainly.
In West Virginia the appraisal clause is written into state law (W. Va. Code § 33-17-2), 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 West Virginia?
Twenty days after the written demand.
Who chooses the umpire in West Virginia if the appraisers cannot agree?
A judge of a court of record in the county of the property, on request.
Can the appraisers decide whether my loss is covered in West 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 West 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 West Virginia?
No state license for property claim appraisers.
The policy requires each appraiser to be competent and impartial (some forms say disinterested), which is why an appraiser paid by a share of the award is open to challenge.
Nearby: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia