Divorce

There are generally two options for the involved parties regarding any property, residential or commercial, affected by the matrimonial proceedings.

• The property can be sold and the proceeds divided appropriately.

• One party can ‘buyout’ the other party.

In either case, the value of the property will be required. In some cases, the two parties will choose one independent appraiser to perform the property appraisal. If both parties are in agreement with the appraised value, then the divorce appraisal will be utilized to determine how the property will be handled. If one or both parties are not in agreement with the appraised value, a second independent appraisal may be obtained. In other cases, especially if the parties are not amicable, they may opt to each independently hire an appraiser to value the property from the beginning.

In all scenarios, matrimonial appraisals require experienced, qualified appraisers that are competent in providing high quality divorce appraisals which may be presented in court proceedings. Area Appraisal Services stands by their appraisals and has experience defending them in court. There are several good articles written about appraising / divorce on the internet. Below are several of the better ones that I have found.

Finalizing a divorce involves many decisions, including “Who gets the house”? There are generally two options regarding the house – it can be sold and the proceeds divided, or one party can “buy out” the other. In either case, one or both parties should order an appraisal of the residence. Divorce appraisals require a well supported, professional appraisal that is defensible in court. When you order an appraisal from us, you are assured that you will get the best in professional service, courtesy, and the highest quality appraisal. We also know how to handle the sensitive needs of a divorce situation. Attorneys and Accountants rely on our values when calculating real property values for estates, divorces, or other disputes requiring a value being placed on real property. We understand their needs and are used to dealing with all parties involved. We provide appraisal reports that meet the requirements of the courts and various agencies.

Negotiating a divorce property settlement depends on a fair, impartial and accurate assessment of the value of the property to be divided. But, who should determine how much the real estate is worth? It isn’t something a mediator or a judge can decide. For an accurate evaluation, you’ll need the expertise of a professional real estate appraiser.

-Forbes