San Diego's Date-of-Death & Estate Appraisal Specialist
Independent, retrospective valuations for estates, trusts, and probate throughout San Diego and San Diego County — plus divorce, bankruptcy, and pre-purchase appraisals — written to withstand scrutiny from the IRS, attorneys, and the court.
Appraisal Services
Independent, non-lender appraisals for attorneys, courts, estates, families, and individuals throughout San Diego and San Diego County — led by date-of-death and estate valuation work.
Date of Death Appraisals
My core specialty: pinpointing a home's fair market value as of a specific past date so an estate can be settled, reported to the IRS, and its stepped-up basis documented correctly.
Learn more →Divorce Appraisals
A neutral opinion of value that holds up for both sides — used by San Diego family-law attorneys, mediators, and the court to divide real property fairly.
Learn more →Estate & Trust Appraisals
Valuations that support probate, trust distribution, and tax reporting — the everyday companion to date-of-death work for executors and trustees.
Learn more →Bankruptcy Appraisals
An independent value the trustee, the debtor's attorney, and the bankruptcy court can rely on to determine real property equity.
Learn more →Expert Witness & Litigation Support
A report built to be challenged, and testimony to back it up, when a property's value is contested in court, arbitration, or a tax appeal.
Learn more →Pre-Purchase Appraisals
An independent number before you sign — so you know what a San Diego home is actually worth before you commit to buying it.
Learn more →Pre-Sale Appraisals
Price it right the first time — an independent, certified valuation to set your San Diego listing price instead of guessing.
Learn more →Tax Appraisals
Support for property-tax appeals, gift-tax reporting, and other tax matters that require a documented, defensible value.
Learn more →Family Transaction Appraisals
A documented fair-market value for sales, gifts, and transfers between family members — the kind of paper trail the IRS expects to see.
Learn more →Insurance Dispute Appraisals
Objective evidence when you and your insurance carrier disagree about what a property, or a loss, is actually worth.
Learn more →Bail Bond Appraisals
A fast, credible valuation to verify the equity in real property pledged as bail collateral.
Learn more →Immigration Appraisals
Independent property valuations documenting real-estate assets for USCIS visa, residency, and sponsorship filings.
Learn more →Why Choose Brian Ward Appraisal
Decades of local experience and reports built to hold up under scrutiny.
Certified & Experienced
California Certified Residential Appraiser with 20+ years of experience and 7,000+ completed appraisals across San Diego County.
Direct Communication
Work directly with the appraiser — no call centers, no runaround. Personal attention from start to finish.
Reports That Withstand Scrutiny
Every report is written to be clearly understood by attorneys, judges, the IRS, and financial institutions, with defensible conclusions.
Deep Local Knowledge
From downtown high-rises and La Jolla's coastal bluffs to North County, East County, and the South Bay, I know San Diego's neighborhoods and micro-markets block by block.
Responsive Service
I work efficiently to meet court deadlines and time-sensitive transactions. Contact me to discuss your timeline.
Fair, Transparent Pricing
Published fees starting at $299 with no hidden charges. Complex properties and rush delivery are quoted upfront.
Serving All of San Diego County
From downtown San Diego to the North County coast, East County, and the South Bay — click any community to learn about appraisal services in that area.
Ready to get started?
Request an appraisal online or call directly at (619) 630-9273.