FREE, Lower Cost Options for Divorce or Estate Divisions

Inventory

• Do it yourself

  Doing the photo listing and valuing one’s self saves considerably over our beginning to end services.

• What are the FREE and Reduced Rate Options?

  Our primary goal with FairSplit is to reduce emotional stress and conflict in divisions and preserve civility and respect between the parties. If you can’t afford the fee, but have a need for the service, we want to hear from you. Email us for a free or reduced code due to true need.

• What are the FREE 2 party division spreadsheets?

  Familiar, or willing to work with an Excel spreadsheet, we have built a nice spreadsheet that can be edited and used between two parties collaborating to divide items such as in divorce, two heirs or even dividing a business. If you can make this work for you without the online process, then we are happy to provide this at no charge. (see sample – eMail us to Send the spreadsheet to you or download here)

Asset List Creation:

• What should be included on the list?

  Any items not specifically assigned in a will or agreed by all parties not to include. For example, if ALL heirs have informed the executor ahead of time they have no interest in linens, cookware, or maybe big furniture items, one might list the items in bulk, but assign them a “To be sold or donated” status, so it doesn’t complicate the division. Another example: If everyone agrees Dad’s rocker should go to Sue ahead of time, it should still be listed with its MV (Market Value) and assigned to Sue before dividing starts, so it counts toward her share. It is usually a good practice to have ALL items listed so everything is clear to ALL involved parties, even if they are to be donated or sold.

• What are tips for good ways to photograph an estate?

  • 1. Light coming from behind you or from above is better than photographing facing sunlit windows. Try to have the light behind you, and light on specific items being photographed
  • 2. The photos do not have to be high resolution for good viewing on the website. We reduce the size when you upload, but they will upload faster if taken at medium resolution settings.
  • 3. A good method is to go room to room photographing. Group furniture, jewelry, collectibles, so that each item can be shown clearly within a group.
  • 4. If a valuable item or piece of art, take one or more photos of that item. For groups of collectibles, jewelry or books, group shots are usually fine. We suggest putting numbers next to each piece of jewelry shot in a group so it can be identified in the description.
  • 5. Think about how one would want to see the items online while taking the photos. For example a matching pair of wing back chairs could be taken in a single photo, or a dining table and chairs that go together, etc.

• What else should I photograph?

  Often in divorces, all items are well known by description, so may not require many photos per room to still be able to adequately list the items to be divided. If a family is very familiar with the items of an estate, detailed photos of art or antiques may not be as necessary, but if anyone would have trouble being certain which items were which, individual photos may be needed. For example, if there are three landscape oil paintings, be sure it is possible to clearly indicate which is being listed from which photo. All items listed can have photos, scans or files of appraisals, receipts and descriptions edited for that item later as needed.

• How does listing assets work?

  We offer drop down menus of typical rooms and contents to pre-populate many of the items rapidly to be edited later. Then from that list, one can edit and add to the list to match your actual content referring to the photos of each room. Listing items, descriptions and the level of detail needed is a matter of personal preference and situational needs.

• Does each item need to be separately listed or are groupings OK?

  Many items are typically grouped and valued together, such as: matching sofa, loveseat and chairs, dining table and chairs with buffet, bedroom set (including dresser, chest, nightstands and headboards), matching necklace and earrings. As the Administrator creating the list, imagine if you desired the item / items and try to group the way most people would prefer to own. When in doubt, list items separately.

• What about items removed immediately after a death?

  Sometimes for security, valuable items are removed from an estate for safekeeping. In other cases heirs or others may hastily remove things they believe they are entitled to. All of these items should be returned, or properly listed and accounted for by the executor. NOTHING should be removed from an estate without all potentially entitled parties having awareness of those items and included as provided for in a will or by law. This can often be the single largest source of conflict, and reasonably so if not dealt with upfront and openly.