One of the key principles of any fair Sacramento divorce is proper valuation and division of the community assets and debts. Each party is entitled to half of the community property value of the assets. For many assets, the parties’ statements of value are acceptable because the items only hold sentimental value and little actual market value. Other assets are easier to value, such as vehicles through Kelley Blue Book, and bank account statements.
For complicated items such as businesses, real estate, and retirement pensions, it is critical to hire a knowledgeable expert to value the items. A risk that any divorce litigant takes is failing to hire an appraiser and then agreeing to a one-sided or unfair division. The initial cost of the expert may scare Sacramento divorce litigants, but in our opinion, it is worth the investment to know that due diligence was performed and there are no after the fact regrets.
If you are involved in Sacramento divorce and there are complicated assets to value, please contact our experienced family law attorneys to discuss proper disclosure and valuation. We can also help you analyze settlement proposals. We offer a free half-hour consultation in which we can discuss your case and demonstrate how we may be able to help you.