What is "stuff" worth in a settlement?

I had a couple of friends who go to garage sales go through the house with me pricing items.It really helped. My attonery told me that fair market value is garage sale price. Sad

My stbx sent me a list of everything that he had at the house and told me it better be on the porch on a certain date for his nephew to pick up or legal action would be taken. Legally I was told I didn't have to give him anything because he was out of the house over a year and when he had asked for anything I gave it to him so whatever was left after all this time I could consider abandoned. Well, me being the person I am I couldn't do that. I gathered up all the things that were on the list that were his before the marriage. Some of the things I was using as when he moved in I got rid Of my things to make room for his. There was a beautiful microwave/convection oven, kitchenade mixer, things that belonged to his mom and the list went on and on down to plastic corn on the cob holders. The only thing on the list he didn't get was the TV because we bought that after the marriage and I'll let the judge decide who gets that. Well anyway, my whole front porch was filled with everything he asked for, his nephew picked it up, took him all day to do it as it is a distance. Later his nephew called and was absolutely fuming. He said to me that he gave up his whole day to get this stuff that my stbx HAD to have and when he got to my stbx's apartment they threw 95% of it immediately in the dumpster. The oven, the mixer and on and on. He only kept the things that belonged to his mother. Then after that when he files the divorce papers he puts in them that I won't agree to an equitable distribution of property.  He wants a distribution, I say go dumpster diving honey, that's where you put it.

I wish I could help you with this one.....mine felt so guilty about leaving, that he left me EVERYTHING!  I even tried to give him stuff and he wouldn't take a thing...just the stuff that was his (clothes, guns, tacky decor....)  I was very, very lucky!

I asked my lawyer the same thing.  It's called yard sale stuff, hope you can pawn it off on someone else for a little money but most likely it will cost more to dispose of than it's worth.  Let her play her games and stress out trying to figure out a value.  If it's stuff you got together it will just bring back bad memories.  Let it go, better she wastes her time throwing it out than you having to move it and throw it out anyway.  Just my $0.02 but actually I would give it for $0.01.  Be well.

Good question, just dropped off my list today.  I had filed, she responded.  My attorney allowed me to see the list she had compiled, and basically I copied it with similiar values.

Seemed like a good way to eliminate fighting over minutae.

I don't know the specific answer to your question, but if you can do without all that stuff, I'd suggest not taking it.

I took a lot of stuff from the old house and now I'm looking at it all, wondering why it was so important and realizing that it doesn't work well in my new apartment.

If she thinks the electronic equipment is worth so much (a six year old rear-projection TV? How's the 8-track deck doin'?) I'd humbly suggest letting her keep it and pay "nearly what it costs to replace it." Then you'll be free to purchase what you'd like, and fits your needs, space and budget.

If your stbx thinks that everything is worth so much more that what is really is worth, how about having him (her)  inform you how much he (she) thinks it is worth and then let them have the crap and give you half the money. I think the monetary value will drop real quick.

If your stbx thinks that everything is worth so much more that what is really is worth, how about having him (her)  inform you how much he (she) thinks it is worth and then let them have the crap and give you half the money. I think the monetary value will drop real quick.

hello,
 well, my ex took mostly everything that was worth something, the big tv, nice furniture,bedroom furniture, and soo on. but honestly i did not want that stuff because of memories. i pretty much said take it and go away because i did not want to fight. i bought  new for my kids and i. he left me sleeping on the floor but thats life. my kids had a bed and thats all that mattered. i look at it like stuff and nothing else. i even gave him my house , wanted no part of it because of things he did to me.

well thats just my feeling i hope it helps

cherbear

The thought that I have is that if he is contesting the value of the things that you desire from the marriage property, make him pay to get an estimate.  Do whatever leg work that you can do for free to cover your backside in case you don't agree with the appraiser, but have him pay.  My stbx demanded that I pay for the appraisal of the family home and I told her if she wanted it appraised, she could do it herself and she did.

Have a second hand furniture dealer come in and see what he would give you for everything. It won't be a lot. Are you could spend forever on ebay looking for similar items that have sold.

The computer equipment wouldn't be worth much. Even I know you can go out and buy better equipped for the same price or less.

All of those things are just like buying a new car. Once you sign on the dotted line it's worth less than you paid for it.

Hey JHS, during business mergers, if the 2 parties can't value their physical property (in this case because of natural ignorance rather than spite), they usually hire a Certified Valuation Analyst (usually also a CPA) who knows exactly where to go to look for comparative prices, etc.

A good way to imitate a CVA's process is to use the average of the last 4-5 sales of an identical or substantially similar item on eBay.  That will be easy to find for most stuff.

I sold a decent sized business a few years ago.  One thing I learned is that a 5-year-old computer and peripherals have no value and you'd probably have to give them away to a  recycler.