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Estate and date-of-death appraisals
Independent real estate appraisals for estates, probate and heirs by Scott D. Kelley, Kentucky Certified General Appraiser #4265 (appraising since 2006). We appraise homes, farms, land and commercial property as of the date of death or as of today, depending on what the estate needs.
Date-of-death (retrospective) values
A retrospective appraisal estimates market value as of a past date, such as the date a property owner died. Estates use it to establish stepped-up basis for income tax, to divide property among heirs, or for probate. The appraiser uses sales that occurred around that past date rather than today's market. More on date-of-death appraisals.
Current-value appraisals for estates
When an estate plans to sell property or one heir plans to buy out the others, a current market value helps everyone work from the same supportable number. For a sale, a pre-listing appraisal serves the same purpose.
Farms and land in an estate
Many western Kentucky estates include farmland, timber or hunting tracts. Farm appraisal is our specialty (farm and land appraisals). If land will be divided among heirs, a survey establishes the new tracts and the appraisal values them.
What to send
- The property address or PVA parcel number and the deed
- The date of death, or the effective date the estate's attorney or accountant needs
- Anything that changed since that date, such as repairs, damage or removed buildings
- Contact information for whoever will provide access
The appraiser is independent of the heirs and the estate's decisions. We do not give legal or tax advice; your attorney or accountant decides what the estate needs.
Counties served
Hopkins · Webster · Henderson · Union · Livingston · Marshall · Lyon · Trigg · Christian · Todd · Logan · Warren · Muhlenberg · Ohio · Daviess · McLean · Hancock · Caldwell · Crittenden
How to order
Call 270-667-4216 (Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM CT), email admin@tradewaterrealty.com or use the appraisal order form with the property address, county, purpose and any deadline. We quote the fee for your assignment before any work starts. Office: 114 N Broadway Ave, Providence, KY 42450.
Frequently asked questions
What is a date-of-death appraisal?
A retrospective appraisal of market value as of the date the owner died, based on sales from around that date. Estates use it for stepped-up basis, probate and dividing property among heirs.
Can you appraise a property as of a date in the past?
Yes. A retrospective appraisal reports market value as of a stated past date, using sales and information from around that date.
What if the property has changed since the date of death?
Tell us what changed. A retrospective appraisal describes the property as it was on the effective date, as far as records, photos and other information allow.
Do you give tax or legal advice for the estate?
No. We provide the appraisal. Your attorney or accountant decides which date and type of value the estate needs.
General information, not legal, tax or lending advice, and not an appraisal of any property.