Missouri Laws 528.720 – Heir’s property, procedure
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3 of this section, if the court determines that the property that is the subject of a partition action is heirs’ property, the court shall determine the fair market value of the property by ordering a certified appraisal under subsection 4 of this section.
2. If all cotenants have agreed to the value of the property or to another method of valuation, the court shall adopt that value or the value produced by the agreed method of valuation.
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 528.720
- Appraisal: A determination of property value.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
- Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
- Property: includes real and personal property. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Sole ownership: The type of property ownership in which one individual holds legal title to the property and has full control of it.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
3. If the court determines that the evidentiary value of an appraisal is outweighed by the cost of the appraisal, the court, after an evidentiary hearing, shall determine the fair market value of the property and send notice to the parties of the value.
4. If the court orders a certified appraisal, the court shall appoint a disinterested real estate appraiser licensed in this state to determine the fair market value of the property assuming sole ownership of the fee simple estate. On completion of the appraisal, the appraiser shall file a sworn or verified appraisal with the court.
5. If an appraisal is conducted under subsection 4 of this section, no later than ten days after the appraisal is filed, the court shall send notice to each party with a known address, stating:
(1) The appraised fair market value of the property;
(2) That the appraisal is available at the clerk’s office; and
(3) That a party may file with the court an objection to the appraisal no later than thirty days after the notice is sent stating the grounds for the objection.
6. If an appraisal is filed with the court under subsection 4 of this section, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine the fair market value of the property no sooner than thirty days after a copy of the notice of the appraisal is sent to each party under subsection 5 of this section regardless of whether an objection to the appraisal is filed under subdivision (3) of subsection 5 of this section. In addition to the court-ordered appraisal, the court may consider any other evidence of value offered by a party.
7. After a hearing under subsection 6 of this section but before considering the merits of the partition action, the court shall determine the fair market value of the property and send notice to the parties of the value.