Estate & Date-of-Death Appraisals

Settling an estate almost always requires knowing what the real property was worth on a specific date — usually the date of death, though an executor may elect an alternate valuation date six months later. This "date-of-death" value is used for estate tax liability, the disposition of assets under a will or through probate, and dividing the estate fairly among heirs.

Unlike a stock or a bond, real property doesn't have a public, minute-by-minute price history. Establishing a defensible value as of a past date requires an appraiser who can research the comparable sales that existed around that date, in that specific area — which is exactly the kind of work a long-tenured local appraiser is built for.

Who this is for

Executors, estate attorneys, and accountants rely on this work because it needs to be independently defensible to the IRS, the courts, and to any heir who might question how the estate was divided.

Where it overlaps with senior transitions

Many date-of-death appraisals happen alongside a family clearing out and selling a parent's longtime home. If that's your situation, the senior transition services page covers the fuller picture — the appraisal is one piece of it.

Frequently asked

Does the appraisal have to be dated exactly on the date of death?

Not necessarily. The executor can sometimes elect an alternate valuation date six months after death instead, if that better serves the estate. Either way, the appraisal establishes value as of a specific past date, not today's market.

Why can't we just use the county's assessed value?

Assessed values for tax purposes are often outdated or calculated using mass-appraisal methods that don't reflect a property's actual condition or true market value. The IRS and probate courts generally expect an independent fee appraisal, not an assessment record.

How many counties do you cover for this kind of work?

Mercer, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington counties primarily, with the local sales history to support a well-documented retroactive opinion of value.