Insurance & Claims

Insurance and Claim Disclaimer

The Roof Shepherd is not a public adjuster. This page explains the exact scope boundary.

Our Role

What The Roof Shepherd does and does not do

Visual observation and documentation onlyThe Roof Shepherd provides visual observation, documentation, and educational guidance related to roof and property conditions. This is not public adjusting.
Not a licensed public adjusterThe Roof Shepherd is not licensed as a public adjuster in Texas or any other state, and does not hold itself out as one. Public adjuster services are regulated under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 4102.
No coverage interpretationNothing on this website or in any documentation produced by The Roof Shepherd constitutes an interpretation of insurance policy coverage, a guarantee of claim approval, or an opinion on claim value.
No claim negotiationThe Roof Shepherd does not negotiate with insurers on behalf of homeowners, does not waive or rebate deductibles, does not absorb deductible costs, and does not condition pricing on whether an insurance claim is filed.

Coverage Decisions

Who decides your claim

Coverage belongs to the insurer

Coverage decisions belong to the insurer, based on your policy terms and the adjuster’s assessment. The Roof Shepherd’s documentation is a neutral record of visible conditions — it supports, but does not determine, claim outcomes.

If you need representation

If your situation requires someone to negotiate a claim or interpret your policy, contact your insurance carrier or engage a licensed public adjuster. The Roof Shepherd can recommend resources but cannot act in that capacity.

Deductibles & the Law

Your deductible is yours to pay — skipping it is a crime

The Roof Shepherd never waives, absorbs, rebates, or pays any part of your insurance deductible, and never reduces one by inflating an estimate. We document conditions — we do not sell roof work paid from your claim — so your deductible stays between you and your insurer.

In Texas, helping a homeowner skip a deductible usually triggers two separate offenses:

1 · Waiving the deductible — a Class B misdemeanor under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 27.02, for the contractor or anyone selling work paid from your claim.

2 · Hiding it in a padded claim — insurance fraud under Tex. Penal Code § 35.02, graded by the dollar value of the claim:

Sentence by claim valueTex. Penal Code ch. 12 & 35

Under $100Class C misdemeanorsentence ›

⚖ No jail · fine up to $500

$100 – $750Class B misdemeanorsentence ›

⚖ Up to 180 days county jail · fine up to $2,000

$750 – $2,500Class A misdemeanorsentence ›

⚖ Up to 1 year county jail · fine up to $4,000

Felony territory$2,500 and up

$2,500 – $30,000State-jail felonysentence ›

⚖ 180 days – 2 years state jail (served day-for-day) · fine up to $10,000

$30,000 – $150,000Third-degree felonysentence ›

⚖ 2 – 10 years in prison · fine up to $10,000

$150,000 – $300,000Second-degree felonysentence ›

⚖ 2 – 20 years in prison · fine up to $10,000

$300,000 or moreFirst-degree felonysentence ›

⚖ 5 – 99 years or life in prison · fine up to $10,000

The graded amount is the claim value (or the inflated portion), not the deductible alone. Texas wind/hail deductibles commonly run $2,500–$5,000 and roof-replacement claims run higher — both routinely clear the $2,500 felony line, and the homeowner is exposed too.

Treat any “free roof” or “we’ll cover your deductible” offer as a red flag.

Official sources: Tex. Business & Commerce Code ch. 27 (deductible offense) and Tex. Penal Code ch. 35 (insurance fraud); the duty to pay is Tex. Insurance Code ch. 707 (HB 2102, 2019). General information, not legal advice.

Next Step