Divorce Valuation

While an estate agent's market appraisal may be acceptable for initial discussions, it carries very little weight in the family court. Estate agents are not independent (they have a commercial interest in winning your instruction to sell), their appraisals are not prepared to any professional standard, and they are not subject to RICS regulation. The court expects a formal RICS Red Book valuation prepared by an RICS Registered Valuer — particularly if the property value is disputed, if the property is unusual, or if the matter proceeds to a final hearing. Using an informal appraisal risks the valuation being challenged by the other party, leading to delay, additional cost and further dispute.

Yes, and this is often the most effective approach. Both parties (usually through their solicitors) jointly instruct us as the Single Joint Expert — one independent valuer who prepares a report that is binding on both sides. This saves both parties the cost of instructing separate valuers, eliminates the 'battle of the valuers' where each side produces a different figure, and is the court's preferred approach under Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules. Our SJE reports are prepared in compliance with Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules and are addressed directly to the court.

This depends on the stage of the proceedings and what the court has directed. Common valuation dates include the date of the financial settlement hearing, the date of the FDR, the date of separation, or the date of the consent order. Your solicitor will advise on the appropriate valuation date for your case. We can also provide a valuation as at more than one date if, for example, the value has changed materially since separation.

Yes. If the matrimonial assets include buy-to-let properties, holiday homes, inherited properties or any other residential property, we can value all of them. We understand the specific valuation considerations for investment properties — including tenanted versus vacant possession value, gross and net rental yield analysis, and the impact of sitting tenants on marketability. Each property is inspected and reported on, and we can produce a consolidated report if your solicitor or the court prefers.

The cost depends on the property type, size, location and the number of properties to be valued. We provide a fixed-price quote within 24 hours of your enquiry — the price we quote is the price you pay, with no hidden extras and no VAT added to our fees. As for who pays, this is a matter for the parties to agree. In a Single Joint Expert instruction, the cost is typically shared equally between the parties — and we can invoice each side separately on request — though the court can direct a different split in the final financial order.

We aim to inspect the property within 5–10 working days of receiving instructions (whether joint SJE instructions or party-appointed). Once the inspection is complete, the valuation report is delivered by email within 5–7 working days. If you have a court deadline approaching — for example, a Form E deadline or an FDR hearing date — please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your timescale.

If one party is uncooperative or refuses access, we can discuss alternative arrangements. Options include: the cooperating party providing access; keys being collected from a solicitor or estate agent; or, in some cases, a desktop valuation based on publicly available information (though this carries more caveats and may not be accepted by the court for final hearing purposes). We will advise on the most appropriate approach based on your circumstances.

In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. Both refer to a RICS Red Book valuation prepared for the purpose of divorce or dissolution proceedings. Our divorce valuation page focuses specifically on the divorce context — Form E, consent orders, FDR hearings and final hearings — while our Matrimonial Valuation page covers the broader spectrum of matrimonial and separation proceedings. The same rigorous standards, RICS Red Book compliance and professional independence apply to both.