What Documents Appraisers Need For Divorce Cases?

Appraisers in divorce cases mainly need documents that prove ownership, show debts/encumbrances, and provide enough property/financial detail to support a defensible “date-of-value” opinion for settlement or court. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and asset type, but the lists below cover what’s most commonly requested.

Case basics to provide

• The required date of value (e.g., separation date, filing date, or a court-ordered date), because divorce appraisals sometimes require a retrospective (“as of”) valuation rather than today’s value.
• The party/attorney contact info, property access details, and any court instructions that affect scope (for example, needing a report suitable for court and potential testimony).

Real estate (home/land)

• Proof of ownership: deed/title documents (and, if relevant, purchase/closing paperwork).
• Debt/encumbrances: recent mortgage statements and any related loan documents.
• Government/assessment records: property tax bills/assessments.
• Value and condition support: prior appraisals (if any) and records of home improvements/renovations (contracts, receipts, permits, before/after details).
• If it’s a rental property: current lease agreements (and, if available, rent roll/income documentation) so the appraiser can understand how the property is used.

Business interests (business valuation)

• Core financial history: profit & loss statements, balance sheets, budgets/forecasts (often for the past 3–5 years).
• Tax filings: business tax returns (often for the past 3–5 years) and related notices/assessments if applicable.
• Ownership/structure documents: formation documents (e.g., Articles of Incorporation), operating/partnership agreements, buy-sell agreements, shareholder lists/classes of shares.
• Cash-flow evidence: business bank statements, credit card statements, and loan statements (often 3–5 years).
• Prior indicators of value: any previous valuations, offers to buy/sell, or transaction documents involving ownership interests.

Personal property (jewelry, art, collectibles, vehicles)

• Any prior appraisals, purchase receipts, and other supporting paperwork for significant personal property (antiques, collectibles, jewelry, art, etc.).
• For high-value items, clear photos and any provenance/insurance schedules can help a specialist appraiser identify the exact item being valued (and reduce disputes over condition or authenticity).