Independent RICS property valuations for divorce and separation proceedings.
In divorce and separation proceedings, the family home is usually the largest asset to be divided. The family court requires an accurate, independent market value before a financial settlement can be agreed or ordered — estate agent appraisals are not sufficient because they are not independent or accountable.
A RICS Red Book matrimonial valuation provides an unbiased market value prepared by a Registered Valuer with professional accountability to RICS. The figure directly affects how assets are divided, whether one party can afford to buy the other out, and what the court orders if the parties cannot agree.
SPI can be instructed jointly by both parties (one report accepted by both sides — the approach courts prefer) or by one party individually.
Joint instruction: both parties instruct SPI together as a Single Joint Expert (SJE). One report is produced and accepted by both sides, costs are shared, and the court will normally rely on the SJE figure. This is the fastest and least contentious route.
Single instruction: one party instructs SPI alone. The other party may obtain their own valuation, and if the two figures differ the parties can negotiate, put written questions to each valuer, or ask the court to determine which evidence to prefer — often by ordering a fresh Single Joint Expert valuation.
If you disagree with a valuation figure, you may put written questions to the valuer — a formal right where the valuer was appointed as Single Joint Expert. SPI’s role is always that of an independent expert: our duty is to the court, not to the instructing party.
Where parties each hold conflicting valuations, the court will often direct a Single Joint Expert to produce one binding figure. SPI regularly acts as the court-directed SJE in these circumstances.