Should you be present for a home appraisal during divorce?

If your case is in the Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations, or heading there, ask your attorney whether there are instructions about access, attendance or communication with the appraiser. Those instructions come first.

Someone who knows the house can answer questions about renovations, repairs, how rooms are used and the history of the property. Better still, put the important facts in writing so they do not depend on a conversation.

A tense exchange between the two of you takes attention away from the property. Agree beforehand how access will be arranged and who gives information. Raise questions about the assignment through the agreed channel, not by debating a number during the appraisal.

Where it suits your situation, a representative can coordinate access or hand over documents. Settle that with your attorney and the appraiser first, and confirm who may give instructions and who is named as an intended user of the report.

• Major improvements and approximate dates.
• Permits, plans and repair records.
• Known condition issues or access limits.
• The effective date and any instructions from counsel.

You can also check what the Hamilton County Auditor shows for the property at hamiltoncountyauditor.org and flag anything that looks wrong.

Who attends? Who arranges entry? How does each side send records? What happens if an area cannot be reached? Answer these early.

Being present does not decide ownership shares, the valuation date or how a court uses a report. Those are questions for your attorney. To talk about the property and the purpose of the report, call (513) 998-7177 or use the contact page. More on our divorce appraisals.