Divorce appraisal
Divorce Appraiser in Santa Monica
A divorce appraisal in Santa Monica from Randy M. Sonns gives spouses, attorneys and mediators one written value of the home, tied to an agreed valuation date. Use it when the home must be bought out, sold or divided and both sides need the same facts.
The task
The divorce task in Santa Monica
For example, a Santa Monica couple may disagree about which valuation date to use because the market moved between separation and trial. The date you choose shapes the number, so it is worth settling with counsel before you order.
Nearby homes can differ in size, age and condition, so the comparable sales in the report should reflect those differences rather than averaging them away.
Randy describes his role on the divorce page as a reliable third party who works with the attorney. The report states a value and a date. It does not decide who keeps the home, and it says nothing about how a court will rule.
At a glance
What the appraisal states
| Element | What it states |
|---|---|
| Valuation date | The date the value applies to, agreed in advance |
| Parties and counsel | Who ordered the report and who may rely on it |
| Property access | How and when the home was inspected |
| Comparable sales | Recent sales of similar homes and how they differ |
| Limiting conditions | What the conclusion depends on |
Official guidance
Why the date matters
California Family Code section 2550 provides that, absent agreement or a stipulation, the court divides the community estate equally. Section 2552 provides that the court values assets and liabilities as near as practicable to the time of trial, and that on 30 days' notice and good cause it may value them at a date after separation and before trial. The date is therefore a choice to settle with counsel, and the appraisal follows it. This is general information, not legal advice. Read the California Family Code section 2552 yourself, and ask your attorney how it applies.
Official records
Records that help in Santa Monica
The City of Santa Monica explains how to view inspection history using a building permit number and a street number on its inspection history page. A permit record shows past work, and it is not a valuation conclusion.
A record of past work helps an appraiser understand additions and repairs. A missing record is not a valuation conclusion, and an appraisal is not a certificate that a building meets code.
Divorce appraisal
What the report gives each side
For the spouses, the report is one value they can both read. For an attorney, it is a documented starting point for negotiation that shows its own evidence. For a mediator, it is a shared set of facts for the session. Intended users are the people the report is written for, and recipients are the people who actually get a copy. They are agreed in the engagement and are not always the same, so say who should receive a copy when you order.
Step by step
Order of events
One spouse or an attorney contacts Randy and describes the home and the purpose.
The spouses or counsel agree the valuation date and who should receive the report.
Access to the home is arranged for the visit.
Randy inspects the home and analyzes the comparable sales, following the five steps on his residential appraisal page.
The written report is delivered electronically to the agreed recipients.
A dated list of improvements and repairs keeps the discussion on the evidence. If either side disputes a fact about the home, such as an addition or a repair, raise it before the visit so the report reflects it.
Who pays for a divorce appraisal in Santa Monica?
The engagement terms decide who pays for a divorce appraisal in Santa Monica, and they are usually agreed between the spouses or set by their attorneys before the order is placed. Raise the arrangement when you request a quote, and settle it before the visit so neither side is surprised by the fee.
What valuation date is used?
The valuation date is the date you agree with counsel, and the report states it on its first page. California's Family Code lets a court value assets as near as practicable to trial or, on notice and good cause, at a date after separation. Settle the date before you order a divorce appraisal in Santa Monica.
Do you work with my attorney or mediator?
Randy's divorce page says he works closely with your attorney. If a mediator should see the report, tell him when you order, because delivery is agreed in the engagement. Intended users and recipients can differ, so say who should get a copy.
Next step
Get a divorce appraisal quote
Get a Divorce Appraisal Quote with the property address, the valuation date and who should receive the report. Call (310) 429-3569 Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Closed on Sunday.