Appraisers do not have a rulebook that helps them determine the exact price of each asset. Instead, they rely on their own market experiences and asset types to dictate valuations. In amicable divorces, a couple may decide to use one appraiser and trust his or her asset valuations. In other cases, both spouses may insist on individual appraisers. When two appraisers disagree about an asset’s valuation, resolving the resulting disputes takes additional time and money.
An item’s nature also affects valuation. Some assets, for example, can fluctuate between the time a spouse files for divorce and when the court approves a divorce. If a spouse has control of the valuation of an asset, the timing of the valuation matters. For instance, if the couple owns a small farm together, one spouse could theoretically drive the value down after learning about the divorce. In these instances, the valuation should reflect worth at the time the couple decided to separate.