Estates, gifts and division
Supporting heirs.
An estate mixes emotion, law and value. When it includes Central African art objects, a clear appraisal eases decisions and calms discussion.
Who it is for
- Heirs facing objects whose nature they do not know.
- Notaries who need a reference value and an inventory.
- Families preparing a gift or a division.
- Spouses and executors.
How it works
- Contact with the family or the notary, as you prefer.
- Inventory of objects, with photographs and description.
- Authentication and valuation at the reference date.
- Report delivered to the notary and, with agreement, to all heirs.
- If needed, a clarification meeting with the family. Exchanges with heirs take place by video call or in person, as they prefer.
What you receive
- An annotated inventory.
- Argued values, suited to the use (declaration, division, insurance).
- A presentation understandable by non-specialists.
Limits and precautions
- The practice does not give tax or legal advice.
- It acts in the interest of the quality of the appraisal, not of one heir against another.
- The provenance of some objects may raise questions of lawfulness: see provenance.
Fees are quoted before any work begins and never depend on the estimated value. See fees and transparency and the step-by-step process. See also: diaspora and private collections.
Frequently asked questions
Going further
Does the practice replace the notary?
No. It provides the expertise on the objects; legal and tax aspects are for the notary and the family’s advisers.
How can disputes between heirs be avoided?
An independent, shared and reasoned appraisal helps make value objective and supports negotiation. It does not replace family dialogue.
Can division be made in kind?
It is one option among others, with balanced lots; it requires a good valuation of each piece.
Next step
Support an estate.
Describe your piece in a few lines and attach photographs: the reply is confidential.