Carolyn Law Antiques Appraisals

Almost everyone (or their estates) will need or could benefit from an appraisal of their personal property at some point in their lives:

  • For tax purposes—to settle an estate or to claim a significant donation of tangible property to a charitable organization

  • For estate or succession planning—to establish a fair distribution of tangible property among one’s heirs before death

  • For equitable division of assets in divorce or dissolution of partnerships

  • For resolution of debt

  • For insurance purposes—to determine reasonable coverage amounts or to file a claim after loss

In many of these situations, the IRS, courts of law, and insurance companies may require an appraisal of value that complies with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), set forth by The Appraisal Foundation under authorization of the U.S. Congress. The USPAP-compliant report certifies that the conduct of the appraiser and the contents of the report meet the highest standards of professional methodology and analysis, independence, and ethics.