Property question

[Penelope Le Pew]

(CA) My friend is divorced, but has not received his settlement from the divorce. Per his agreement he signed the house over to his ex-wife and the court appointed an appraiser to appraise the house (July, 2000)which he appraised at $13,500 under what they paid for the house - but they still had equity. The settlement splits the equity in the house in half. There were other assets and debts divided in the settlement - but no settlement payment has been made yet.

The ex-wife has the house on the market, and it has sold for $27,400 over the original appraised value... and oddly enough is sold by the same Realty company who appraised the house for the divorce.

Since settlement has not been paid, and if the same appraiser appraised the house for the sale, does my friend have any claim to half the additional equity in the house?

 

[Grandma B]

Has he called his attorney? He should at least have a case against the realtor if they appraised the house for court purposes at one amount, then in just a few months listed it for sale for $40,000 more. I would think the State licensing boards (realtors and appraisers) would frown on that sort of activity.