Family Law: Hire a CBV, Save Legal Fees
In family law, legal hours spike when facts are fuzzy. A focused Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) report clarifies the numbers that lawyers argue about—so your legal time goes where it counts. When there’s a business, self-employment income, or complex banking activity, a CBV can turn scattered statements into a clean, court-ready story.
Where a CBV saves you money
• Possible Value range: Rather than a single number pulled from a template, the report explains how value is determined and presents a defensible Possible Value range. That reduces back-and-forth.
• Income normalization: We reconcile T2/T1 filings with bank and credit card flows to separate personal, business, and one-offs. This is critical when the other side reports “low income” despite visible spending.
• Findings → actions: A short list of targeted follow-ups (e.g., two missing bank months, one supplier confirmation) narrows issues quickly, saving legal time.
Scope you can right-size
You don’t have to start big. Options include:
- Limited memo: Quick Possible Value range or income estimate—useful for budget and negotiation.
- Calculation-level report: Concise, court-friendly, with clear assumptions and support.
- Full opinion: When the court or opposing counsel requires a comprehensive report.
Documents to start gathering
Two years of bank and credit card statements, corporate and personal tax filings, business financials, major contracts, and any shareholder/partner or support agreements. Clean inputs mean faster, cheaper outputs.
Typical 10-day timeline
Days 1–3: intake and document check; Days 4–7: analysis (value and/or income); Days 8–10: draft report and coordination with counsel. Tight timelines are possible when the information set is complete.
What judges and opposing counsel want
Not a thick binder—credible math tied to facts. The best reports show how risks (key-person, customer concentration, data gaps) flow into the numbers (discount rate, cap rate, multiple) and why the Possible Value band is reasonable given the evidence.
Bottom line
A CBV doesn’t replace your lawyer; we help your lawyer work faster and aim better. Cleaner numbers, fewer rounds, quicker outcomes—and often lower legal fees overall.
Call to action:
Email sanjay@sankulinc.com with subject “FAMILY” for a one-page Family Law CBV Checklist (scope choices, document list, and a 10-day plan).
About Sanjay: Sanjay Kulkarni, CBV, CFA, CPA (CA-I), C.Dir, is a Toronto-based Chartered Business Valuator and Fractional CFO with 25+ years of experience helping privately owned businesses, PE/VC, and family-law matters across Canada. Email: sanjay@sankulinc.com · Sites: SankulInc.com | BusinessValueGrowth.com
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