Divorce Proceedings – The Importance of an Independent Valuation

Divorces can get notoriously messy, and anything that takes some of the worry out of this difficult time can be a blessing. With divorce rates at an all-time high, and more and more people looking for how to file for divorce in arizona, as well as locations all around the world, matrimonial valuations are becoming increasingly important as a way to make sure you split the value of your marital home appropriately. One of the best ways to do this is to get an independent valuation to decide how you will split your assets.

While you might have other things on your mind at the moment, a matrimonial valuation is incredibly important. This is because it helps to streamline the awkward divorce process and will help move things along more quickly in the long run. Some parties may still be in denial about the whole divorce and every situation is different. But for the sake of your sanity and for the sake of all the other parties involved, getting the ball rolling as soon as possible will help you move on with your own life. The first step after acknowledging the fact that you need to legally separate from your partner is to contact law firms in mayfair or similar ones in your vicinity, who can help you out!

For now, we take a look at some of the reasons why you should consider a matrimonial valuation in order to help divorce proceedings along and to prevent hold ups in court.

Little Annoyances Made Big
If you want your divorce hearing to run as smoothly as possible, it’s best not to get caught up in discussions and quibbles over aspects of the divorce that are easy enough to sort out beforehand. These can easily escalate and cause fights over what may have been an easy issue to solve before. Try to keep a level head and enter into proceedings at a professional level. Your spouse may think you heartless today, but it is far easier to work things out in the long run if you put personal feelings aside in order to streamline the process.

Settle it Out of Court
It’s particularly important to try to get matters relating to property agreed and settled before a court hearing so you can avoid having experts present in court. To avoid disputes at the hearing, make sure you get organised in advance and get a Jointly Appointed Valuer and Surveyor to value the property so that you and your partner can decide how it will be split. It will take some of the headache out of what will already be a stressful time and both parties will know what to expect when the time comes to go your separate ways.

Having a Concrete Figure to Work With
It’s not uncommon to see arguments arise over something as significant as matrimonial property. Without a valuation, there is no concrete figure to work with, and it can be extremely difficult to come to a rational decision without knowing exactly how much your home is worth.

It is no good making a rough estimation based on the value of the house at the time of purchase, especially following a time of such unstable house prices. For example if you’ve made any home improvements you may find that the value has changed quite dramatically. It is important to take any and all changes into account, as both parties will have contributed to the expansion, improvements and upkeep of the property in question, so get a formal new valuation.

Settling on the Single Figure
Rather than each party getting a separate valuation, a matrimonial valuation will provide an overview for both parties, meaning one figure is settled to be passed on to the courts. The valuation will involve deciding on the overall state of the property and any maintenance issues, and while an estate agent can provide information about the current market value, an expert in matrimonial valuation will be able to provide the court with the exact information they need to come to a decision about how assets will be divided.

This helps to prevent discrepancies and also saves time arguing over individual valuations. By showing that you can work together as polite adults, this will also work in your favour when it comes to divorce proceedings in other areas. Being civil, while a hard ask at times, is always essential in events such as these in order to minimise heartbreak and to ensure that you get your dues.

While a divorce will always be a tricky time, don’t let it create more trouble than it needs to, and seek expert advice to avoid running into expensive, time-consuming problems further down the line. By keeping your head on the ball and out of the mind games, you can also help to reduce stress with divorce proceedings and hopefully your partner will do the same. It is not always smooth sailing in divorces; the very presence of a divorce looming over your head is solid proof of this, but with time and a professional mind-set, you can use a professional surveyor to help reduce the time and pain spent worrying about a divorce.

Article provided by Sara Bryant, an independent content writer working alongside a selection of companies including Brian Gale Surveyors, members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) who were consulted over this post.

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