The Second Department determined the trial judge should have determined the value of the marital residence before awarding sole title to plaintiff:
We remit the matter for a new trial on the issue of equitable distribution of marital property. Although the parties came forward with a paucity of evidence regarding the value of the marital residence, the Supreme Court was nevertheless required to determine the value of the property before awarding sole title to the plaintiff. “A determination must be made as to the net value of each asset before determining the distribution thereof” … . In circumstances where proof of value is insufficient to make a determination, the court has discretion to, among other things, appoint a neutral appraiser and to direct that such appraiser be paid by one or both parties … . Further, the court erred in failing to value and equitably distribute the defendant’s investment in a rental property located in North Carolina and the parties’ remaining interest in property located in Costa Rica. Van Dood v Van Dood, 2016 NY Slip Op 05858, 2nd Dept 8-24-16
FAMILY LAW (COURT MUST DETERMINE VALUE OF MARITAL PROPERTY, DESPITE PAUCITY OF SUBMITTED EVIDENCE, BEFORE DISTRIBUTING IT)/EVIDENCE (FAMILY LAW, COURT MUST DETERMINE VALUE OF MARITAL PROPERTY, DESPITE PAUCITY OF SUBMITTED EVIDENCE, BEFORE DISTRIBUTING IT)/MARITAL PROPERTY (COURT MUST DETERMINE VALUE OF MARITAL PROPERTY, DESPITE PAUCITY OF SUBMITTED EVIDENCE, BEFORE DISTRIBUTING IT)/EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION (COURT MUST DETERMINE VALUE OF MARITAL PROPERTY, DESPITE PAUCITY OF SUBMITTED EVIDENCE, BEFORE DISTRIBUTING IT)