Appraisal Resources & Guides

Straight Answers, in Plain English

Appraisals come up at stressful moments — after a loss, during a divorce, in the middle of a legal case. These guides explain what you need to know in plain language, whether you're a family working through an estate or a professional advising clients.

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What Is a Date-of-Death Appraisal — and When Do You Need One?

A plain-English walkthrough of the appraisal that establishes what a property was worth on the day its owner passed away: why courts and the IRS require it, when executors and heirs need one, and what the process looks like from first call to finished report.

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Probate Referee vs. Private Appraiser: What's the Difference?

In California probate, you may hear both terms. This guide explains what a court-appointed probate referee does, when a private appraiser is the right call instead, and how to figure out which one your situation requires.

How Much Does a Date-of-Death Appraisal Cost in California?

An honest breakdown of what drives the fee — property type, complexity, location, and turnaround — plus what to ask when you're comparing appraisers, and why the cheapest quote isn't always the best value.

The Executor's Checklist for Estate Property

A step-by-step checklist for executors handling real estate: securing the property, gathering documents, ordering the appraisal, working with the attorney and CPA, and avoiding the common mistakes that delay estates.

What Is Stepped-Up Basis? A Plain-English Guide

One of the most important — and most confusing — tax concepts in estate work, explained without jargon: what stepped-up basis means, why the date-of-death appraisal establishes it, and how it affects heirs when property is eventually sold.

How Attorneys Should Prepare Clients for a Retrospective Appraisal

Written for estate and probate attorneys: what to tell clients before the appraiser arrives, which documents speed things up, how to set expectations on timeline and cost, and how to avoid the back-and-forth that delays filings.