Real property is often the largest asset in a divorce proceeding, and how it's valued can significantly affect the financial outcome for both parties. When spouses disagree on what the home is worth, or when one party suspects the other's preferred number is skewed, an independent appraisal cuts through the argument. Family law attorneys also need an appraisal that can withstand cross-examination if the case proceeds to litigation — a report based on weak comparable selection or thin market analysis won't survive scrutiny in a Florida courtroom or a mediation session with a sharp mediator on the other side.
Slater Appraisals, Inc. handles divorce and family law appraisals as either a single-party assignment or as a neutral joint appraiser when both sides agree to share a single report. Robin works professionally with attorneys on both sides of a matter and understands the procedural expectations of Florida family law proceedings. The report includes full supporting documentation — the comparable sales, the adjustments, and the market analysis — so that opposing counsel can review the methodology rather than simply dispute the conclusion. When testimony is required, Robin is available to appear and explain the analysis.
In a divorce proceeding, the appraisal of a West Palm Beach or South Florida property needs to be something both parties and the court can rely on as a neutral starting point. A report prepared by Slater Appraisals, Inc. gives attorneys and mediators a well-documented value opinion that respects deadlines and doesn't introduce procedural complications. The outcome, when the process works well, is a defensible number that allows the financial settlement to move forward — whether that means a buyout, a sale, or an agreed division of assets — without the appraisal itself becoming a second point of contention in the case.
What's Included
Every divorce & family law appraisals visit includes
Neutral, independent opinion of value
Prepared to withstand court scrutiny
Available as joint or single-party appraiser
Testimony available when needed
Fee quoted per assignment
Service Area
Serving Palm Beach & Broward County
West Palm BeachBoca RatonDelray BeachBoynton BeachWellingtonJupiterFort LauderdalePompano BeachCoral SpringsHollywood
The Process
How a divorce appraisal works
1
Define the assignment
The effective date matters in family law — current value, date of filing, or date of separation can each apply. Robin confirms the date and intended use with you or your attorney before starting.
2
Neutral inspection
The property is inspected and documented the same way regardless of which side ordered the report. The value is the value.
3
Independent analysis
Comparable sales are selected and adjusted on the evidence, with reasoning spelled out so the conclusion holds up under an opposing attorney's scrutiny.
4
Report and support
You and your attorney receive a written report built to be used in negotiation, mediation, or court.
Why It Matters
The house is usually the biggest number in the case
For most divorcing couples in South Florida, the marital home is the largest single asset on the table. An independent value affects:
Equitable distribution — what each spouse actually walks away with
Buyout math when one spouse keeps the home and refinances
Whether selling or keeping the property makes financial sense
Settlement negotiations, where a supported number closes arguments
Court proceedings, where an unsupported opinion simply doesn't survive
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this service
Often, yes. When both parties agree to retain a single neutral appraiser, one report can settle the value question at half the cost of dueling experts. When each side retains its own appraiser, Robin's role is the same either way: an independent value, documented to withstand scrutiny.
Differences usually trace to comparable selection or condition assumptions. A well-documented report shows its reasoning, which lets attorneys and mediators identify exactly where the two opinions diverge — and which one the evidence supports.
That's a legal question your attorney answers — Florida cases may use the filing date, a separation date, or current value. Once the date is set, the appraisal is built around it, including retrospective dates when needed.
The report is a full written appraisal prepared by a licensed appraiser — Certified Residential RD8037 — with the documentation family courts expect. If testimony is required, that can be discussed as part of the assignment.
Complete appraisal reports for single-family homes and residential properties throughout Palm Beach and Broward County, prepared with more than four decades of local market knowledge. Includes a full interior and exterior inspection, photographs, sketch, market analysis, and comparable sales research specific to the subject's neighborhood. Reports are written to be defensible for lenders, attorneys, or private use. Typical turnaround is a few business days after inspection, depending on complexity. Every report is prepared personally by Robin Slater.
Retrospective valuations for estate settlement and probate, giving attorneys, executors, and families a defensible value as of the date required. Reports are prepared to IRS-friendly standards with historical comparable sales pulled from the effective date, not today's market. Used for step-up in basis calculations, estate tax filings, and distribution among heirs. Delivered in a format that won't slow down a probate filing or trigger follow-up questions from an accountant or auditor.
Know what your home is really worth before you list. An objective valuation that helps sellers price with confidence and avoid leaving money on the table, or chasing the market down with price cuts. Unlike a broker's opinion, a pre-listing appraisal is prepared by a disinterested third party with no commission at stake. Useful for owners considering a sale, negotiating with a buyer directly, or evaluating an offer that came in below expectations.
An independent appraisal to support a property tax appeal when your assessed value looks out of line with the market. Palm Beach and Broward County assessments can lag or overshoot actual values, especially in fast-moving neighborhoods. A defensible appraisal, prepared as of the assessment date, gives you the evidence needed to petition the Value Adjustment Board or negotiate directly with the property appraiser's office. Timing matters, so call early in the appeal window.
Current-value appraisals homeowners can use to petition their lender to remove private mortgage insurance once equity supports it. Many South Florida owners have gained enough value to drop PMI but don't realize the lender will accept an independent appraisal as evidence. The report is prepared to standard lender format so it can be submitted directly to your servicer. In most cases the appraisal fee is recovered within a couple of months of PMI savings.
Valuations for condos and townhomes across South Florida's condo-dense coastal markets, with attention to association factors that affect value. That means looking at HOA financials, reserves, special assessments, milestone inspection status, insurance, and rental rules, all of which move the number in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and points between. Comparables are drawn from within the building or complex where possible, and adjusted carefully for view, floor, and exposure.
