Estate Appraisals

Settling an estate is an important and sometimes stressful job. As an executor or Personal Representative, you have been entrusted to carry out the wishes of the deceased as swiftly and exactly as possible. You can count on us to act quickly and with sensitivity to the feelings of everyone involved.

Attorneys and Accountants rely on our values when calculating residential real property and personal property (general household contents/ex: used furniture) supporting inventory market values for estates and probate. We understand their needs and are used to dealing with all parties involved. We provide appraisal reports that meet the requirements of the local Maryland courts, the Register of Wills office and various agencies.

Settling an estate usually requires an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the personal property and real estate property involved. Often, the date of death differs from the date the appraisal is requested. We are familiar with the procedures and requirements necessary to perform a retroactive appraisal with an effective date and Fair Market Value estimate matching the date of death. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the fullest degree of discretion.

All too often, people do not fully appreciate the need to have a detailed appraisal prepared in support of the numbers being used in documents filed with revenue authorities.

Opinions of value used in documents filed with the revenue authorities should be supported by a detailed real estate appraisal report as to how the appraiser arrived at his conclusions. Such a report will certainly demonstrate to the authorities that the numbers used are well founded and substantiated.

Having a professional appraisal gives the executor solid facts and figures to work with in meeting IRS and state agency requirements.