Divorce and Litigation Appraisals Built for Careful Review
When real property is part of a divorce, mediation, settlement discussion, or civil dispute, the valuation needs a clear scope, a supportable effective date, and reasoning that can be understood beyond the appraisal report. Selkirk Valuations provides independent residential appraisal services for attorneys, property owners, fiduciaries, and other intended users across North and Central Idaho and select neighboring counties in Washington and Montana. The appraisal addresses value—not legal ownership, liability, or how property should be divided.
When it is useful
Assignments this service can support
- Marital dissolution and equitable-distribution discussions
- Mediation, arbitration, and settlement preparation
- Partition, ownership, or damages-related disputes involving residential real estate
- Retrospective valuation when a past effective date is relevant
- Review of another appraisal when an independent review scope is appropriate
What to expect
A scope matched to the decision
A litigation-related appraisal starts by defining the question precisely. The resulting scope, research, inspection, analysis, and reporting are matched to the intended use and intended users identified at engagement.
- Define the assignment.
Confirm the property, intended use and users, interest appraised, effective date, report format, deadlines, and any known dispute-specific facts. Engagement terms are documented before work begins. - Inspect and research.
Inspect the property when the scope calls for it, then research public records, relevant market activity, neighborhood influences, and property-specific characteristics. Historical assignments also require period-appropriate data. - Analyze and reconcile.
Apply the approaches to value that are credible for the property and assignment, explain material adjustments and assumptions, and reconcile the available evidence into an independent opinion. - Report and clarify.
Deliver the agreed appraisal report with supporting analysis. Questions about the report can be addressed with the authorized client; deposition, hearing, or testimony services require a separate agreement when available.
Service area
Regional knowledge, assignment-by-assignment review
Assignments are considered in North and Central Idaho—including Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, Benewah, Shoshone, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Idaho counties—and in select Eastern Washington and Northwest Montana counties. Washington coverage includes Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Garfield, and Asotin counties; Montana coverage includes Lincoln, Sanders, and Mineral counties. Acceptance depends on competency, records availability, timing, and the facts of the assignment.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about divorce & litigation appraisals
Can one appraisal be used by both parties in a divorce?
Potentially, if the parties and their counsel agree on the appraiser, intended users, intended use, effective date, and scope before engagement. The appraiser remains independent and does not advocate for either side. Each party should ask their attorney whether a joint appraisal is appropriate for their matter.
Can you appraise the property as of a past date?
Yes, a retrospective appraisal may be possible when the relevant historical date and sufficient property and market evidence can be established. The availability and reliability of historical information are evaluated before accepting the assignment.
Does the appraisal decide what is marital property or how value is divided?
No. The appraisal develops an opinion of value for the defined real-property interest and effective date. Classification, ownership, allocation, and other legal conclusions should be addressed by qualified counsel or the court.
Start with a clearly defined valuation question
Share the property address, intended use, effective date, deadline, and the parties who need to rely on the report. Selkirk Valuations can then confirm whether the assignment is a fit and outline the appropriate appraisal scope. This initial discussion is not legal advice.
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