Antiques in Divorce Court

Art & Antiques By Dr. Lori

It is nearly impossible to have missed the latest news about the celebrity divorce of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. Reports forecast great difficulty in the amicable dissolution of the couple’s assets including real estate, money, and valuable art and antiques. While most of us don’t have the McCartneys’ Here comes the Sun lifestyle, everyone should know the current value of their stuff, particularly if you are facing a split.

No Fish Story

The best part of your husband’s fishing hobby was the personal time it afforded you while he was wading in a stream trying not to attract trout. As divorce looms, you urge him to take the yard sales purchased creels, lures, and rods out of the garage. Unaware that his fishing lures are big ticket collectibles, you want his overflowing tackle boxes gone, too. After the divorce, you discover that some of those smelly lures sell at sportsmen auctions for $300-$500 each. You are shocked that a special Giant Haskell lure sold for $101,000. You didn’t care when you were in love with the old man in the sea, but now his fishing lure collection purchased during your marriage could pay for the lion’s share of your child’s college education!

Looking at the situation from the other side of the fence … You agree to let your soon to be ex-wife have that ceramic tea service because it will cramp your style in your new bachelor pad. After the divorce is finalized, you find out that the antique teapot was valued at $5,000. All of a sudden, you have a renewed interest in oolong. You’re furious that you didn’t get your share of the pot--or teapot--as the case may be. Appraising personal property isn’t about reading tea leaves, it’s about correct identification of objects and current market analysis.

Antiques Appreciate

Even if you don’t have the McCartney’s multi-million fortune, you want your fair share of your marital assets. Even on Heather Mills McCartney’s Long and Winding Road, future dollars should be considered during a divorce. Many women who may earn less than their ex-husbands fear running out of money in the years following a divorce. It may be the best time to obtain authority over the art or antiques because those items may appreciate in value. Some divorce experts think that getting the antique French armoire that appreciates may be a better deal than getting the new car that depreciates.
Remember, most divorce lawyers can’t identify, authenticate, and appraise that Mackintosh side chair that you bought on your anniversary trip to Glasgow. Divorce attorneys typically do work with expert and educated certified appraisers who can identify and provide the true value of your art, antiques, collectibles and other personal property.

As seen on Comcast CN8 TV, Dr. Lori is an antiques appraiser with the Ph.D. in art history. For information, visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.