How a Fayetteville house is valued in a North Carolina divorce

In North Carolina the court does not ask you to agree on a number first. It asks what the house was worth on a particular date.

The date is set by statute

A marital home takes its value from the date of separation (G.S. 50-21(b)). A rise or fall in value after separation is divisible property, valued as of the date of distribution. So a Fayetteville house can call for two values: one looking back and one closer to the date the court divides property.

What an appraisal does, and does not do

It states the market value on a named date, with the sales it relied on. It does not decide who owns what, set either spouse's share or price a buyout. Those belong to the court and your attorney.

An agent's price opinion is a different thing

A Realtor's comparative market analysis is useful for a conversation. For a filing, ask your attorney what the court expects.

If the two of you disagree

Name the specific fact in dispute, such as a room added without a permit or a roof replaced after separation, and gather the records. An appraisal review or a second report is a question for your attorney.

Before you call

Have the date of separation, the address and who will hire the appraiser. See our divorce appraisals page for how Cumberland County family court handles inventories and appraisals.