(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3), 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 an appraisal pursuant to subsection (4).
(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.
(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 an 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 pursuant to subsection (4), not later than 10 days after the appraisal is filed, the court shall send notice to each party with a known address, stating:

(a) The appraised fair market value of the property.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 64.206

  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Determination of value: means a court order determining the fair market value of heirs property under…. See Florida Statutes 64.202
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Equitable accounting: means considering contributions and adjustments of accounts between cotenants, which are related to the real property and are based upon such contributions and adjustments,…. See Florida Statutes 64.202
  • 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.
  • Heirs property: means real property held in tenancy in common which satisfies all of the following requirements as of the filing of a partition action:
    (a) There is no agreement in a record binding all the cotenants which governs the partition of the property;
    (b) One or more of the cotenants acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased; and
    (c) Any of the following applies:
  • Sole ownership: The type of property ownership in which one individual holds legal title to the property and has full control of it.
(b) That the appraisal is available at the clerk’s office.
(c) That a party may file with the court an objection to the appraisal not later than 30 days after the notice is sent, stating the grounds for the objection.
(6) If an appraisal is filed with the court pursuant to subsection (4), the court shall conduct a hearing to determine the fair market value of the property not sooner than 31 days after a copy of the notice of the appraisal is sent to each party under subsection (5), whether or not an objection to the appraisal is filed under paragraph (5)(c). 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), 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.

In addition to a determination of value under this section, the court shall determine the amount of the equitable accounting upon the request of any cotenant and shall appropriately adjust any price, purchase price, apportioned price, buyout, judgment, or partition granted under this part based on the results of the equitable accounting.