Family Law Valuations

Answers

Answers

58 plain-language answers to the questions separating owners, family lawyers, mediators and accountants ask about valuing a business for a property settlement. Each answer links back to the page it comes from.

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Topics

Browse by topic

  • Family law business valuation basics

    The questions people ask first when a business forms part of the property pool: what a family law business valuation is, who prepares it, what it covers and how it is used.

    11 answers

  • Settlement Valuation

    Questions about the fixed-fee Settlement Valuation: what it is for, what it includes, how long it takes and what it is not prepared for.

    9 answers

  • Court Expert Valuation

    Questions about the Court Expert Valuation: the conflict and suitability assessment, instructions, the duty to the Court, what is charged separately and how the fee is confirmed.

    9 answers

  • Fees

    Questions about fees, GST, what each fee includes, what is charged separately and how a quotation is confirmed.

    7 answers

  • The process

    Questions about the process from enquiry to final report: the conflict check, the scope stage, the documents, the draft for factual review and delivery.

    2 answers

  • For family lawyers, mediators and accountants

    Questions family lawyers, mediators and accountants ask about instructing, joint appointments, single experts, timing and how we communicate.

    8 answers

  • For individuals

    Questions from people going through separation: what to expect, what it costs, what to gather and what we can and cannot do.

    7 answers

  • What we value

    Questions about the businesses, practices and ownership interests that can be valued, and the issues a family law business valuation considers.

    5 answers

Every question

All answers, by topic

Family law business valuation basics

  1. What is a family law business valuation?
  2. What is the difference between a Settlement Valuation and a Court Expert Valuation?
  3. Can a Settlement Valuation be used in court?
  4. How long does a valuation take?
  5. Who can instruct you?
  6. Whose side are you on?
  7. What information do you need to start?
  8. Can you value a minority interest, a trust or a group of related entities?
  9. What does it cost?
  10. Do you work Australia-wide?
  11. I do not know which service I need. What should I do?

Settlement Valuation

  1. Can I use the Settlement Valuation in mediation?
  2. Can my former partner and I instruct it jointly?
  3. What if the other party disputes the valuation?
  4. What if I do not have all the documents?
  5. Do you value the whole business or just my share?
  6. Is the fee really fixed?
  7. Will you speak directly to my lawyer or accountant?
  8. Can I tell you what number I need?
  9. Can I start with a Settlement Valuation and move to an expert report later?

Court Expert Valuation

  1. What is a single expert, and can you act as one?
  2. Who is the expert?
  3. Is the report court approved?
  4. Why is the Court Expert Valuation priced "from" rather than fixed?
  5. What is charged separately?
  6. Can one party instruct an expert report, or must it be joint?
  7. What if the parties disagree about the facts?
  8. Will the expert attend court?
  9. How long does an expert report take?

Fees

  1. Is the Settlement Valuation fee really fixed?
  2. What could increase the expert fee?
  3. Is the Settlement Valuation fee credited if I move to an expert report?
  4. Do the fees include GST?
  5. Who pays when a single expert is appointed?
  6. Are there any other costs?
  7. Is there a charge for the initial enquiry and scope review?

The process

  1. What is the draft for factual review?
  2. Do you need to visit the business?

For family lawyers, mediators and accountants

  1. Will you review a draft letter of instruction before we engage you?
  2. Can you be jointly appointed as a single expert?
  3. Can you tell us whether a Settlement Valuation is enough for our matter?
  4. How do you handle gaps in disclosure?
  5. Will you communicate with the other side?
  6. What are your turnaround times?
  7. Can you give a fee estimate before the instructions are settled?
  8. Are you on a court panel or approved by the Court?

For individuals

  1. My former partner owns the business. Can I ask for a valuation?
  2. I own the business. Will the valuation be used against me?
  3. Do I need a lawyer to instruct you?
  4. What if the business is worth less, or more, than we thought?
  5. Will you talk to my former partner?
  6. How much of the business value is mine?
  7. Is my enquiry confidential?

What we value

  1. Can you value a business that is not making a profit?
  2. Does the valuation include the business premises?
  3. Do you value superannuation or the family home?
  4. Can you value the business at more than one date?
  5. The business was started before the relationship. Does that change the valuation?

Two services, two purposes

A Settlement Valuation ($2,995 + GST, fixed fee) is prepared for negotiation, mediation and property-settlement discussions. A Court Expert Valuation (from $8,995 + GST) is prepared for matters that need an expert report for court. They are different tools for different situations, and the appropriate one depends on where your matter is and what the report will be used for.

For negotiation and mediation

Settlement Valuation

A fixed-fee independent business valuation for private negotiations, mediation and property-settlement discussions.

Fee

$2,995 + GST

Fixed fee, payable in advance.

  • $2,995 + GST
  • For negotiation and mediation
  • Fixed scope
  • Written independent report
  • Generally completed within seven business days
  • Not prepared as court evidence
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About Settlement Valuations

For court proceedings

Court Expert Valuation

An independent expert report for matters where a valuation is intended for filing or reliance in court.

Fee

from $8,995 + GST

Final fee confirmed in writing after scope and conflict review, payable in advance.

  • From $8,995 + GST
  • For court proceedings
  • Court-compliant expert report
  • Subject to instructions and conflict review
  • Signing valuer will be a Chartered Accountant
  • Additional expert work charged separately
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About Court Expert Valuations

If your matter later requires an expert report for court, we will assess whether the initial work can be carried forward and provide a separate quotation before proceeding. The appointed expert must independently review the material and may require further information or analysis. See the fees page

The Settlement Valuation fee is not automatically credited against a Court Expert Valuation. Unnecessary duplication is avoided where appropriate, but the appointed expert must independently review the material, control the analysis and form their own opinion.

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Answers

One value. Independently reached.

Clear, independent business valuations for separation, mediation, property settlements and court proceedings.

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