Appraisals and Estate Planning

The Galerie St. Etienne's expertise in the artists and areas we represent makes us well qualified to appraise works that fall within our domain. We are also intimately familiar with the requirements of different types of appraisals, which can range in complexity from simple letters to elaborate catalogues, including records of recent sales of comparable works.

Appraisals

Appraisals usually fall into one of the following categories:

• Routine Insurance Appraisals
  Insurance appraisals document replacement cost (that is to say, the retail price that would have to be paid if the owner were to purchase a comparable work). The Galerie St. Etienne provides insurance appraisals gratis for all works acquired from us. Charges for appraising works not purchased from our gallery vary according to the nature and quantity of the items involved.
• Estate Tax Appraisals
  Estate tax appraisals document fair market value (that is, the price that would be paid between a willing buyer and a willing seller). Estate tax appraisals are generally quite elaborate, including a detailed schedule listing all the appraised works and comparable sales for the more valuable items. The Galerie St. Etienne has extensive experience dealing with the IRS on art-related estates. Charges for estate tax appraisals vary according to the nature and quantity of the items involved.
• Income Tax Appraisals
  Like estate appraisals, income tax appraisals document fair market value; they are used to determine the donor's tax deduction when a work is given to a non-profit institution. As a member of the Art Dealers Association of American, the Galerie St. Etienne is not permitted to provide income tax appraisals on an individual basis. Rather, these appraisals are done by a team of three or more qualified ADAA members. If you need an income tax appraisal, please contact the ADAA at http://www.artdealers.org

Estate Planning

Collections often represent a lifelong passion, encompassing the individuality and the cumulative connoiseurship of their creators. Seldom, however, can a collector's heirs duplicate his or her passion for and intimate understanding of the collection. Therefore, it is extremely important that collectors think proactively in advance about the ultimate fate of their collections, rather than leaving everything up to attorneys and executors.

There are innumerable questions that must be answered in order to plan effectively for an estate that contains an art collection. Does the family want the collection, in part or in whole? Would some or all of the works be of interest to a museum? Will some things have to be sold? Is keeping the collection intact a realistic option and, if so, how can this goal be achieved?

Whatever the answers to these questions, the Galerie St. Etienne can help you:

• Evaluate the collection, both financially and art historically
• If the collection needs to be divided, suggest divisions that make sense, from a personal as well as a curatorial standpoint
• Place the collection, in whole or in part, with an appropriate museum or museums
• Formulate a plan to maximize the return if all or part of the collection will be sold

If you have questions, please contact us at gallery@gseart.com