Services
Personal Property Appraisals
- Insuring Art, Antiques, and Household Contents: A homeowner’s insurance policy provides for payment if you lose items of personal property through fire or theft; however, there are category limits as to how much you will be paid unless you have your valuables specifically listed and their values confirmed by means of a bona fide appraisal prior to loss. In the event of a loss, proof of ownership as well as claimed value must be provided by the owner. For antiques, collectibles, and art this is most easily accomplished by means of a professional appraisal. Most insurance companies require appraisals be updated every few years.
- Divorce and Equitable Distribution: In an effort to insure an equitable handling of the economic factors surrounding a divorce, the courts can make a monetary award to the disadvantaged spouse based on the determined value of all marital property. Such an award is often based on the professional testimony of a qualified appraiser. Additionally, in other instances when valuable property is to be divided, an objective appraiser’s services are necessary in assigning values on which the division will be based.
- Estate Valuations: Upon death, estates are inventoried and appraised to establish a basis for determining estate taxes. This appraisal also becomes useful when the estate must be divided equally among heirs or when donations from the estate to charitable organizations are to be made. The California estate tax is equal to the state credit tax under the federal estate tax laws. There are no additional estate taxes imposed by the state. For Federal estate and gift tax purposes, the value of property generally is its fair market value, i.e., the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. For Federal estate tax purposes, fair market value is determined at either (1) the time of the decedent’s death, or (2) the “alternate valuation date,” which is six months adter the decedent’s death.
- Other: Other occasions when an appraisal report may be required include Charitable Contributions, Moving and Damage Claims, Liquidation, and Bankruptcy.
- Appraisal Reports: All reports will include an organized detailed report with descriptions and values, a cover page, the appraiser’s qualifications, terms and conditions, and photographs. All appraisals and reports are prepared in conformity with and are subject to the standards and requirements set forth in the ISA’s Code of Ethics and Appraisal Report Writing Standard and with The Appraisal Foundation’s Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Appraisals done for federal estate and state inheritance tax purposes are done in accordance with pertinent state and Internal Revenue Service Code regulations.
Guidance in the Acquisition of Artwork
- Will be provided on the basis of an acquisition service only, a written appraisal cannot be provided due to a conflict of interests.
Lectures
Household Inventory
- A complete inventory of your home with photographs and detailed descriptions.
- To be used in any circumstance, for example:
- Before a marriage to catalogue your personal property
- Prior to relocating-to catalogue each piece and its condition
- General household inventory to catalogue all pieces which are located in your home in case of fire, earthquake, flood damage, etc.
Office Address: S/W Corner of Mission & Ocean . Suite 203 . Carmel, CA 93921
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5021 . Carmel, CA 93921
Phone: 831.917.5006 Fax: 831.624.3220
Email:
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