Independent thinking. Clearly explained.

Family Law Valuation Co. is a sister practice of Oliver Group, an Australian business valuation practice, and both are operated by the same company. It provides independent valuations of privately owned businesses, companies, trusts, partnerships and professional practices where a marriage or de facto relationship has ended.

A valuation for a property settlement is read by people who disagree, and sometimes by a court. It has to answer questions a valuation for a sale or for tax does not: what the owner really earns for the work they do, what the business would be without them, how an interest held through a trust or a minority holding should be treated, and what changed between the valuation date and today. It also has to be explained to a person who did not run the business and may not trust the figures they have been shown.

A practice that does only this work can keep its scope, its language and its fees clear. It can say at the outset whether a matter needs a Settlement Valuation for negotiation and mediation, or an expert report for court, and it can write for the reader who is least likely to accept the figure.

Our role is to determine a supportable value from the available evidence, not to produce the highest or lowest number for either party. Every conclusion must be capable of being explained, tested and defended.

We do not act as an advocate for either party, we do not provide legal advice and we do not adjust a valuation to achieve a preferred outcome. The same method applies whoever instructs us. The report is written so that the other party, their advisers and, where required, the Court can follow and test the reasoning.

Every report is prepared and signed by the valuer who accepts the instructions. For a Settlement Valuation, that valuer is identified in the engagement letter and signs the final report. For a Family Law Expert Valuation, the expert report will be delivered by a suitably qualified business valuer. That expert is identified in the engagement, together with their qualifications and experience, and the report carries their signature and declaration of independence. The appointed expert's overriding duty is to the Court.

No report is issued in the firm's name alone, and no report is signed by someone who did not do the work. Family Law Expert Valuation engagements are subject to conflict checking, scope review, suitable instructions and acceptance by the appointed expert.