An appraisal of the personal property held by one or both partners is necessary to determine its value in order to finalize your divorce property settlement. This is important because the division of assets for the settlement needs to be based on the Fair Market Value – what it could be sold for on an open market–on a relevant date. Fair Market Value, depending upon the item, may be far less than what the parties paid for it or what they would have to pay to replace it and thus requires a careful description and valuation of vehicles, boats, furniture, accessories, jewellery, antiques and other household items.

It is essential that you know the value of the personal property to ensure that a fair agreement can be negotiated between the parties in the divorce proceeding.

A certified personal property appraiser should prepare your divorce appraisal so that it will be defensible in court. Our appraisal values for personal property are what lawyersand accountants rely on when a personal property value is required for divorce. We provide appraisal reports that meet the requirements of the Canadian courts and various revenue agencies

Ottawa Estate Appraisers is experienced in handling “Retrospective Appraisals”, these are appraisals where the date of the appraisal is different than the date that the report is ordered or the date the appraisal is performed. Many items fluctuate in value over time and the date of valuation can make a big difference in the overall value of the property. We’re familiar with the requirements and processes and will ensure that the Fair Market Value estimate matches the date which you or your lawyer request.