Who Orders A Divorce Appraisal?

Decide whose question the report will answer

You may be considering one appraisal for both spouses or separate appraisals. That choice affects the engagement, communications, and who can rely on the report. Discuss the arrangement with your attorney before asking an appraiser to begin. The person who calls, the person who provides access, and the client named in the engagement may be different people.

If both spouses plan to use one report, agree in advance who will give instructions, receive the report, and raise questions. If each side obtains a separate report, make sure each appraiser knows the same property facts and the correct value date. Neither arrangement by itself guarantees agreement about value.

Put the engagement and payment terms in writing

Tell the appraiser what property is involved, what the report will be used for, the effective date, and who is intended to use it. Agree on access and delivery before scheduling any property work. Your attorney can advise on cost sharing or a court direction. The person who opens the Reading home for an appointment is not necessarily the person responsible for the fee.

Ask separately whether the assignment includes later questions, deposition work, or testimony. Do not assume those services are included in the appraisal fee or available on a particular date.

If two reports differ, find the difference first

Suppose one report values the marital home as it stood before a kitchen renovation, while another uses a later date after the work. The final numbers may differ even if both appraisers understood the home. Compare the effective dates, the home's described condition on each date, property details, assumptions, and sales used. A Reading rowhouse with different parking or renovation history may call for different comparisons than a nearby house of similar size.

Send documents that can resolve a factual question, such as dated photographs, permits, or repair records. Ask for clarification or a correction through the engagement's communication process. A request to reach a preferred number is different from giving evidence. Your attorney can help decide whether further appraisal or review work is useful to the matter.