For family lawyers, mediators and accountants

Yes. Reviewing proposed instructions before engagement is part of the scope stage for every Court Expert Valuation and is welcome for a Settlement Valuation. We tell you whether the questions can properly be answered, whether the valuation date and interest are clearly defined, what documents will be needed and whether anything in the draft would cause difficulty. We do not draft the instructions or advise on their legal form.

Yes, subject to conflict checking, scope review, suitable joint instructions and acceptance by the appointed expert. The identity of the appointed expert, their qualifications and experience, the scope, the fee and the expected delivery date are confirmed in writing before work begins. Whether a single expert is appropriate or required in the matter is for the parties and the Court.

We can tell you what each service is prepared for. The Settlement Valuation is prepared for negotiation and mediation purposes. It is not prepared for filing or reliance as expert evidence in court. Whether that is sufficient for your matter, or whether expert evidence will be required, is your judgement and the Court's. Where the matter is before the Court or an expert report is expected, we will say that the Court Expert Valuation is the appropriate scope rather than let you start with the wrong tool.

We identify them early, against a checklist tailored to the business, and tell you which gaps can be worked around and which cannot. Where a document is missing, the report says so and explains how the gap was treated. We do not chase the other side for documents; that is a matter for the parties and their lawyers. For a jointly instructed report, requests go through the instructing lawyers to both sides.

In a joint engagement, yes, equally and through the instructing lawyers. In a single-party engagement, no, unless you authorise it. We do not contact the other party, their solicitor or their accountant without instructions to do so, and we tell you if we are approached.

Settlement Valuation: Generally seven business days after payment and receipt of all required information, subject to complexity. Court Expert Valuation: the expected delivery date is confirmed in the engagement and depends on the scope, the structure, the state of the records and any court timetable. Tell us the dates that matter at the enquiry stage and we will tell you whether they can be met.

For a Settlement Valuation the fee is fixed at $2,995 + GST for the defined scope, and we tell you at the enquiry stage if the matter falls outside it. For a Court Expert Valuation we provide a written quotation after conflict checking and scope review. Before that, once we have seen the structure and the state of the records, we can usually say whether the matter is likely to sit at the starting fee or above it and why.

No valuer or firm is approved or accredited by the Court, and we do not claim to be. Expert reports are prepared to address the applicable expert-evidence requirements in the specific engagement and are signed only by the valuer who has accepted the instructions, and that signing valuer will be a Chartered Accountant, a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Whether a report is admitted, and what weight it is given, are matters for the Court.