Date of Death Appraisal Service
Date of Death Appraisals, also known as retrospective appraisals, are a significant portion of Brian Ward Appraisal's business. Regular meetings are held with families settling estates needing valuations for tax purposes and estate administration.
The effective date of a date of death appraisal is some date in the past, usually when a person passed away. Historical appraisals range from one month to over 30 years prior. IRS-compliant appraisals are prepared at competitive rates.
Thorough analysis of market conditions, trends, and comparable sales at the effective appraisal date.
Identification and analysis of properties that sold during the appropriate time period with proper adjustments.
Consideration of market fluctuations and economic conditions affecting property values at the time of death.
Full compliance with IRS requirements for estate valuations and stepped-up basis calculations.
Appraisal Types and IRS Requirements
Standard appraisal fees apply to date of death appraisals. The IRS requires a qualified appraisal prepared by a qualified appraiser — it does not mandate a physical inspection or a specific methodology. Our desktop date-of-death appraisals for single-family homes and condominiums are USPAP-compliant, certified, and prepared to satisfy IRS documentation requirements for the step-up in basis. Full-inspection appraisals remain available when you prefer one or when a property's complexity calls for it.
Dedicated Date of Death Appraisal Resource
For in-depth information about date of death appraisals, including IRS requirements, the step-up in basis process, and what to expect when ordering a retrospective appraisal, visit our dedicated resource at date-of-death.com. For properties outside San Diego County, our statewide desktop date-of-death appraisal service is available there as well — same certified appraiser, ordered entirely online.
Beyond Estate Appraisals
Services extend beyond estate settlement to include appraisals needed for bankruptcy, litigation, and divorce proceedings. The same historical appraisal expertise applied to date of death valuations serves many other legal and financial purposes.