Do I need an appraisal after someone dies?

Sometimes, yes.

An appraisal may be needed to value real estate for estate administration, trust administration, probate, beneficiary buyouts, tax reporting, or a later sale.

When in doubt, getting a reliable date-of-death value is often helpful. It creates a record and can prevent disputes later.

*Reviewed by Estate Planning Attorney Casey Connealy, Partner at Gaughan & Connealy Estate Planning Attorneys on June 23, 2026.