Which of the following actions by a public adjuster would be a violation of law?

Advancing funds to insureds in anticipation of claim proceeds is a violation of law for public adjusters. This action is considered unethical and potentially illegal as it can create a conflict of interest or encourage fraudulent claims. Public adjusters are meant to represent the interests of policyholders, and providing funds before a claim is fully processed and validated can undermine the integrity of the claims process and the adjuster's impartiality.

In the context of public adjusting, maintaining ethical standards is essential. Acceptable practices, such as providing free estimates or offering discounts for multiple claims, do not typically involve direct financial transactions that might compromise the claim's legitimacy. Meanwhile, actions like signing contracts without the insured's knowledge disregard the insured's right to fully understand and consent to their contractual obligations, representing a serious breach of trust and ethics required in the profession.