For Estate Attorneys and Paralegals in Eastern Massachusetts – Complimentary 2026 Practice Resource

Stop Letting Estate Appraisals Create Preventable Risk

I’m Adam from Aladdin Appraisal. I created a practical intake and engagement guide your team can use so estate appraisals stop turning into surprises, disputes, or audit exposure.

Your “supportable work files” paragraph is doing expert positioning, not selling.

1,000+
estate-related aappraisals completed in Eastern MA

100%
Built around current appraisal standards and commonly reviewed IRS requirements

1
Meeting is all it takes for a new paralegal to understand and use the process

BUILT FOR LEGAL AND FIDUCIARY WORK

“This should be the easy part of the file…”

If you handle estates, you already have enough moving parts.
The appraisal should not be the thing that keeps you up at night.

Maybe this sounds familiar:

Executors want “just a number” so they can move on.
Staff are asked to order an appraisal without clear instructions.
The appraiser asks for things that were never scoped or documented.
A year or two later, someone reviews the file and wonders how that value was supported.

You are not alone.

Estate attorneys and paralegals tell me the same thing again and again:

“We are not trying to cut corners. We just do not have a simple,
shared process for handling appraisals.”

That is exactly why I built this guide.

What You Get Inside The Guide

✓9 Point Estate Appraisal Intake and Scope Checklist
✓Sample Engagement and Conflict Check Language
✓Knowledgeable Party Questionnaire
✓Plain English Risk Map

Aladdin Appraisal is a Massachusetts-based residential appraisal firm with
deep experience in estate, trust, tax, and litigation-related assignments.
This guide is designed as a practical reference you can keep in your matter
templates or onboarding materials.

Where appraisal risk sneaks in

Where Appraisal Risk Sneaks Into Estate Files

Most problems are not about anyone being careless. They show up because the appraisal piece was never given a clear framework.

Vague Scopes and Missing Dates

When the effective date, intended use, or client relationship is fuzzy at the start, the appraisal can look fine on the surface but create questions later if it is challenged.

“Ballpark Value” Creep

Informal numbers shared in emails or phone calls can travel further than anyone expects. Later, it may be unclear what was a rough comment and what was a supported opinion.

Delegation Without a Playbook

Smart paralegals and assistants are ordering appraisals, but they are often guessing about what to send, what to ask for, and what to document.

Workfiles That Are Hard To Defend

A report can look polished while the underlying support is thin or disorganized. That is a problem if an auditor, heir, or opposing expert ever starts asking detailed questions.

SIMPLE, SECURE ACCESS

How To Put This Guide To Work In Your Practice

We keep the process straightforward and respectful of your time.

1

Request The Guide

Enter your email, and I will send you the PDF within a few minutes.

2

Customize It For Your Firm

Add your logo or adjust the wording so it fits your intake forms and internal procedures.

3

Walk Your Team Through It Once

Use the 9-point checklist and templates in a short meeting with your attorneys, paralegals, and assistants so everyone is on the same page.

Get The Free Guide

WHO IT SERVES

Is This Guide A Fit For You And Your Team

While the principles are broadly applicable, the examples and context are drawn from residential properties in Eastern Massachusetts markets.

Built to make the appraisal piece simpler, repeatable, and easier to defend.

Solo and Small Firm Estate Attorneys

You touch every file, but you cannot oversee every email.
You want fewer surprises and risk reduction in your estate work
You need simple tools for yourself and one or two staff members
You want to know that the appraisal piece is handled the same way every time

Mid-Size Firms and Practice Group Leaders

You are responsible for consistency across multiple attorneys and paralegals.
You want a standard way for your team to order and manage appraisals
You need something you can incorporate into training and procedures
You care about reducing avoidable risk across the whole practice

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

You are the one actually ordering the appraisals and gathering documents.
You want clear instructions about what to send to the appraiser
You want sample wording you can use without guessing
You want to feel confident that you are protecting the firm and the client

Questions from legal teams

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really free?

Yes. There is no charge for the guide. My hope is that it helps you and your staff manage appraisal risk more confidently. If it also shows you how my team and I think, that is a good outcome for both of us.

Can I share the guide with my paralegals and staff?

Yes. Please do. You are welcome to share it internally within your firm and incorporate it into your own procedures. I only ask that you do not post the full guide publicly.

Is the guide specific to Massachusetts?

The core concepts apply in many jurisdictions, but the examples and context come from estate work in Eastern Massachusetts. For matters outside this area, you should always consider local rules and professional guidance.

Does this replace legal or tax advice?

No. The guide focuses on the appraisal process and risk management. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice and should be used along with your own professional judgment and obligations.

Are you going to flood my inbox with marketing emails?

No. I may send an occasional follow-up with updates or related resources. If it is not useful, you can unsubscribe with one click.

Can you help our firm implement this more formally?

Yes. If you would like help tailoring the checklist or templates for your practice, you can reply to the email you receive with the guide, and we can schedule a short call.