Divorce Appraisal in Contra Costa County

What is a divorce appraisal?

A divorce appraisal is an independent, certified opinion of your property's fair market value prepared specifically for use in divorce or legal separation proceedings. In California, real property must be valued at fair market value before it can be divided between parties. That valuation must be credible, documented, and defensible — whether the case resolves in mediation or goes before a judge.

Brandi Hudson, California Certified Residential Appraiser (#AR029078) and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #02173129), provides divorce appraisals throughout Contra Costa County that are prepared in full compliance with USPAP standards and formatted for legal use.

When is a divorce appraisal needed?

A divorce appraisal is typically required when:

• Both parties need to agree on the value of a shared home or investment property
• One spouse is buying out the other's equity interest
• The property is being sold as part of the settlement and a baseline value is needed
• An attorney, mediator, or judge requires an independent third-party opinion of value
• The parties have received conflicting valuations and need a neutral conclusion

What is an agreed appraiser?

In many Contra Costa County divorce cases, both parties — and their attorneys — agree to retain a single neutral appraiser rather than each hiring their own. That appraiser is called the agreed appraiser, and their conclusion is typically binding on both sides.

Hudson Valuation Group regularly serves as agreed appraiser for divorce proceedings in Contra Costa County. Because the assignment requires a neutral, well-documented opinion that neither side can easily challenge, USPAP methodology and 25 years of certified appraisal experience matter significantly.

What's included in a divorce appraisal report?

• Full interior and exterior inspection of the subject property
• Comparable sales analysis using verified market data
• Adjustment methodology documented and supported
• Final opinion of market value as of the effective date
• USPAP-compliant report formatted for legal proceedings
• Available for deposition, mediation, or court testimony if required

Why accuracy matters in a divorce appraisal

In a divorce, the appraisal isn't just a number — it directly determines how equity is divided. An unsupported or poorly documented valuation can be challenged, delayed, or thrown out entirely. A well-prepared, USPAP-compliant report from a certified appraiser with local market expertise gives both attorneys and the court a credible, defensible foundation for settlement.

Hudson Valuation Group serves the East Bay and Delta communities where waterfront properties, canal-front homes, and golf course parcels require specialized local knowledge that out-of-area appraisers often lack.

Service area

We provide divorce appraisals throughout Contra Costa County including Discovery Bay, Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Concord, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Clayton, and surrounding communities.