Litigation Appraisals

What this service involves

A litigation appraisal is a market-value (or other specified value) appraisal of residential property, prepared with the understanding that it may be reviewed, challenged, or presented in a legal proceeding. The appraiser documents the data, methodology, and reasoning so the opinion can be defended. The scope — full appraisal, limited appraisal, or another defined assignment — is set by the retaining party and the dispute.

This is broader than expert witness testimony, which is a separate engagement where the appraiser testifies. A litigation appraisal may be delivered as a report without testimony, or may later be paired with testimony if the matter proceeds.

When someone may need it

Litigation appraisals support a wide range of disputes: divorce and equitable distribution, probate and estate conflicts, partnership or co-ownership dissolutions, breach of contract, boundary or easement conflicts, and tax assessment appeals. Any matter where residential value is contested may call for an independent appraisal.

What the analysis considers

The appraisal considers the residential value drivers with documentation suited to legal review:

• Property characteristics: type, size, layout, condition, and improvements.
• Comparable sales: verifiable recent sales of similar homes.
• Market conditions: documented local trends.
• Valuation date: the effective date the dispute requires, which may be current or retrospective.
• Assignment limitations: any constraints on scope or available information.

Information that may help

Helpful items include the property address, the nature of the dispute, the required valuation date, the retaining party's name, and any deadlines. Share case-specific details directly with your appraiser, not through the general inquiry form.

How the assignment works

We confirm the scope and valuation date with the retaining party, inspect the property, research and document the analysis, and deliver a report suitable for the proceeding. If the matter advances and testimony is needed, a separate engagement can be arranged.