When a couple is separating, often an appraisal of the property is needed.  There is a wide range of appraisal products available.  However, the appraisal you get must be acceptable by the court, or it will not do you any good.

The courts need a full appraisal, that is well documented and can be understood by both parties in the divorce.  And, the court must recognize the appraisal as credible.

I did an appraisal for a person getting divorced recently.  The other person in the divorce also had an appraisal done.  In the courtroom each of us appraisers had to sit on the witness stand and answer questions about their appraisals from both attorneys.  After asking the other appraiser several questions about the appraisal they had done, then asking me questions about the appraisal I had done, the judge through the other appraisal out and stipulated to mine.

The difference between the appraisals was, primarily, that the appraisal I did was well presented and well supported.  The other appraiser had produced a report that was very biased.  Apparently it was thought that such a biased report would help the person the report had been written for.  NOT SO!  The court threw the appraisal out.  That party to the divorce spent time and money on that appraiser, only to have all their work thrown out.

The lesson is, that in a divorce, you are better off to provide the court with an appraisal that is believable, credible and defensible.  Otherwise, you are wasting your time and money.

Ralph K. Olsen, MAI, SRA, IFA

Pacific West Appraisal Services, Inc.

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