ASC valuation · Divorce
ASC Valuation for Divorce in California
A surgery center interest is often the most misunderstood asset in a physician's marital estate — and the most misvalued.
- CVA Certified NACVA Valuation Analyst
- USPAP Compliant Appraisal Reports
- 500+ Valuations 45+ specialties
The Overlooked Asset in Physician Divorces
Family law teams routinely value the medical practice and miss — or mis-value — the physician's ASC units. Those units can quietly generate six-figure annual distributions, yet they appear on a tax return as a single K-1 line. In a California community property dissolution, that interest must be valued correctly, and standard practice-valuation templates get it wrong because ASC interests behave differently: passive distributions rather than earned income, operating-agreement transfer restrictions, and value that depends heavily on the center's payer mix and case concentration rather than the physician's own labor.
What Correct ASC Divorce Valuation Requires
- The unit, not the center. The marital estate holds a specific interest — often 5–20%, non-controlling, transfer-restricted. We value that interest, with control and marketability discounts assessed under the standard applicable to the matter.
- Distribution analysis. Historic distributions versus reported income, sustainability of the payer mix behind them, and whether distributions were altered around the date of separation.
- Goodwill character. ASC distributions are largely returns on ownership, not personal goodwill from the physician's labor — a distinction that cuts differently than practice goodwill in dissolution analysis, and one we document carefully.
- Restriction reality. Many operating agreements bar transfers to non-physicians outright, constraining how the interest can be divided or offset against other assets. The valuation must reflect those terms, because the settlement will have to.
Detailed Reports, Either Side or Neutral
Divorce ASC engagements use our Detailed Report tier and plug into our litigation support practice for deposition and testimony. We serve owner-spouses, non-owner spouses, and as stipulated neutrals. The physician's practice usually needs valuing too — see practice valuation for divorce; engaging both as one matter saves cost and keeps assumptions consistent.
A clear, three-step process
- 1
Discovery Call
A confidential conversation about your surgery center, the interest being valued, your timeline, and the purpose of the valuation. We scope the right report tier before you commit to anything.
- 2
Financial Analysis & Interviews
We interview ownership and normalize the earnings base. Out-of-network revenue and related-party facility, management, and anesthesia arrangements all get restated. Typical turnaround: 1–2 weeks.
- 3
Certified Opinion of Value
You receive a defensible, USPAP-compliant conclusion of value for the specific interest being valued, whether controlling or minority. We walk you through it line by line, and the report is documented to withstand scrutiny from a buyer, a court, a partner, or a lender.
Does the marital estate include surgery center units?
Have them valued by a CVA who specializes in surgery center interests.
Trusted by physicians across California
Real Google reviews from physicians and practice owners we have served. Read them on Google
“As a physician with partnership transaction of medical practice, he was an exceptional to guide me and advise me. He showed not only professionalism but also his eagerness to help and guide me through. Highly recommend him for any business valuation and transaction.”
Dr. Kyong Kim
Partnership transaction
“Fantastic valuation/appraisal specialist. I reached out to Alexey to help me evaluate a medical practice buy-in on short notice. He was able to work me into his schedule and accommodate my timeline despite how busy he was and provided crucial insight into helping me decide my next steps.”
Dr. Xuan Cao
Medical practice buy-in
“They get 5 stars across the board. Alexey was extremely thorough and detailed oriented. He did a deep dive into my practice’s financials, coding and practice history. He was easily approachable and prompt in answering questions and in completing the Appraisal. I am confident in the results and I would highly recommend him to any physician/practice for an appraisal.”
Dr. Robert Sacks
Ophthalmology practice
“I called Nechay as I was navigating the potential of selling my practice, and I had a lot of questions about my various offers for sale. Nechay was so responsive, methodical, and educational. He really allowed me to understand the landscape of selling my practice. He is an effective communicator, very patient on the phone and obviously extremely knowledgeable. I will be hiring him to help complete my transactions!”
Dr. Garima Lal
Evaluating sale offers
“I hired Nechay Appraisals to value my ophthalmology practice last year and couldn’t have been more impressed. From start to finish, Alexey was fantastic to work with. The end result was a highly professional and polished valuation report that provided valuable insights on the current state of my business.”
Dr. David Salvay
Ophthalmology practice valuation
“Alexey has been an excellent asset in evaluating our practice. His experience and practice suggestions have helped us tremendously. His working knowledge of medical practice evaluation and application of these skills is second to none. He is always readily available at a moment’s notice.”
Dr. Elio Vento
Practice evaluation
“Very attentive. Quick to respond. Knowledgeable.”
Dr. Betty Daniels
“Very professional, responsive and creates an excellent report and is accessible. Thank you!”
Dr. Daniel Laroche
“Alexey is very professional and a pleasure to work with. I was under time constraints and he completed his review on time despite those additional pressures.”
Dr. Charles Jackson
“Nechay listened carefully and provided objective feedback tailored to my specific situation. His honest communication and expertise made a complex process much easier. I highly recommend him.”
Dr. Maria Soledad Romero
“Highly recommend! From start to finish, he demonstrated expertise, professionalism, and genuine care. Not only did he deliver a thorough, well-researched valuation report, but he also took the time to explain key findings, offer strategic advice, and answered all our questions — even talked to our accountant and bookkeeper to dig deep into our situation.”
Dr. Alicia Sanchez
Medical practice valuation
“We hired Nechay Appraisals to value our ophthalmology practice the year before last and couldn’t have been more impressed. From start to finish, Alexey was fantastic to work with. He was very organized and very patient with us as we gathered what he needed. Every week he would check in to make sure everything was on track. We are getting ready to utilize his services again and are looking forward to working with him.”
Jenna Keller
Ophthalmology practice valuation
“I greatly appreciate the help from Alexey. The process was easy and the information was invaluable. The data provided was comprehensive and gave me perspective of my company that I was not aware of. I highly recommend Alexey and his company.”
Dr. Linh Ngo
Medical practice valuation
Frequently asked questions
Both — and the gap between them is exactly what the analysis examines. Taxable income and distributable cash diverge in ASCs due to depreciation and debt service; valuing off the wrong line misprices the interest substantially.
Almost never — operating agreements and California's restrictions on lay ownership of medical facilities typically prohibit it. The practical remedy is an offsetting award of other assets, which is why the valuation number carries so much weight.
The formula may govern what the center would pay on a redemption — but the community property value for dissolution purposes is determined under the legal standard for the case, which may differ. That tension is a recurring battleground; we address it head-on with counsel.
Yes. Valuation engagements are handled remotely from our California office. We work from your financials, interview you by phone or video, and send you the finished report. We have completed valuations in more than 35 states, and an on-site visit can be arranged when an engagement calls for it. Very few appraisers anywhere focus on ambulatory surgery centers, so working with an ASC specialist remotely often serves you better than hiring a generalist nearby.
Don't Let the K-1 Hide the Real Value
Court-ready ASC interest valuations, either side or neutral.
All inquiries are kept strictly confidential.