If you are going through a divorce, you already have paperwork enough. The house takes less than people expect. For a home in Kent County we need a handful of things, and your attorney can supply most of them.
The first three
- The address, as it appears on the deed.
- The date the value should describe. Michigan's property-division statute lets the court award marital property to either spouse or its value in money as it considers just and reasonable (MCL 552.19), and it does not name one date for every home. Ask your attorney or mediator whether it is the day you separated, the day of filing, or today.
- Who will receive the report, so we know who to send it to and who to speak with.
Then, what changed
A new roof, a finished basement, a kitchen that was started and not finished, a porch that came down. Say when it happened. If something changed after the date you need, we will value the house as it stood on that date, not as it looks now.
Records that help, and one that does not settle it
The City of Grand Rapids assessor record card shows square footage, taxable value and sales history. The Kent County Register of Deeds can supply the recorded deed. The taxable value on the record card is a tax figure, not the home's market value, so it cannot stand in for the value.
Send a short note before the files
Start with the address, the date, who the client is and who can let us in. We will tell you what else is useful. Please do not send private financial papers until we have agreed on how they should be shared.
Call 616-816-1943 and we will go through it with you.