Divorce Appraisal: Understanding the Valuation Process
A divorce appraisal is a written, independent opinion of what your home is worth on a date your attorneys choose. It gives both sides one number to work from. It does not decide who gets what: each spouse's share and any buyout are settled by the spouses, their attorneys and the court.
Written scope and fee before any work begins.
How the valuation goes, step by step
- Written terms. We confirm the valuation date, the purpose, who the report is for and your deadline, then send a written scope, fee and delivery estimate.
- A visit to the home. We arrange access with whoever controls the property. The appraiser records its condition, size, layout and improvements.
- Market analysis. The appraiser selects Riverside sales relevant to the valuation date and explains each adjustment. Age, lot, condition and setting matter: a home in the Wood Streets, mostly built before World War II, is not compared with one in Mission Grove, where much was built from the 1980s on.
- The report. It states the value, the valuation date, its intended use, who may rely on it and any assumptions. Factual questions go to the appraiser. Questions about using the value in your case go to your attorney.
A state-credentialed appraiser prepares an independent, USPAP-compliant opinion. Delivery depends on availability, access, complexity and research, so we confirm a delivery estimate with you at the start. If your date is close, see rush appraisals.
What the appraisal decides, and what it doesn't
It decides one thing: an opinion of the home's market value on the valuation date. It does not decide either spouse's legal share or the terms of a buyout. Those stay with you, your attorneys and the court. When one spouse keeps the house, this number is often what a buyout or an offset against other assets is measured against, which is why both sides want it independent and well supported.
If you think a report has a factual error, such as wrong square footage or a sale that isn't comparable, raise it with the appraiser. If you want a second opinion, ask your attorney about engaging another appraiser.
Agree the date and who orders the report
Settle three things with your attorney before anyone calls an appraiser:
- The valuation date. Your attorney tells us which date the report must address. It may not be today.
- Who engages us. One spouse, both spouses or an attorney may order the report. Say which, so the report is addressed to the right people.
- Who may rely on it. The report names its intended users. If both spouses are meant to rely on it, say so at the start.
Our divorce appraisals page covers the California rules behind these choices.
What to gather
- The property address, and its assessor's parcel number if you have it
- The deed and the most recent mortgage statement
- The valuation date your attorney has chosen, and any trial or settlement date already set
- Who is ordering the appraisal and who should receive the report
- Changes since separation, such as repairs, additions, permits or damage, with dates
- Who lives in the home now and how to arrange a visit
Next step
Call us, or send the address, the valuation date and who the report is for. You get a written, property-specific scope and fee before any work begins. If you may need a deposition or court testimony, say so on the first call; it is discussed separately before an assignment starts. For what an appraisal can cost, start with the VA fee guide.
More on the process and the law: divorce appraisals. For the visit itself, see what happens at the appraisal.