Can the valuation be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided the parties consent and the record is retained.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on state law and document purpose. For example, deeds routinely require notary acknowledgment; many valuation reports do not, but signatures on underlying affidavits may.

What authentication is recommended?

Use at least email verification and consider SMS or knowledge-based authentication for high-value transactions to strengthen attribution and reduce challenge risk.

How long should records be retained?

Retain valuation reports and workpapers at least three years after filing or seven years post-termination as appropriate; HIPAA-related records require six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

Are remote online notarizations acceptable?

Many states permit RON with identity proofing and recorded video; verify state RON rules because status and technical requirements vary.

What happens if the signer name differs from legal records?

Name mismatches can delay acceptance or trigger verification requests; ensure signer uses the exact legal name or attach proof of authority to sign.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Financial Valuation Advisors

Financial Valuation Advisors

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

FINANCIAL VALUATION ADVISORS ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Parties and Contact Information

Advisor Name:

Advisor Contact Details

Client Name:

Client Contact Details

Engagement Date: Effective Date:

Scope of Services

Financial Valuation Advisors will perform valuation advisory services as described below. The engagement will be limited to the expressly stated tasks and deliverables; no audit or assurance services are included.

Scope Description

Deliverables and Use

Deliverables will consist of written valuation opinions, supporting schedules and assumptions, and any agreed presentations. Deliverables are intended solely for the stated recipient and specified purpose; reliance by third parties is prohibited unless expressly agreed in writing.

Deliverables (describe)

Fees and Billing

The Client agrees to pay Advisor fees as set forth in the fee schedule below. Fees are due in accordance with the payment terms; expenses and applicable taxes are additional.

Description	Quantity / Hours	Unit Rate	Amount



		Subtotal
		Expenses (estimated)
		Tax
		Total Due

Payment Terms

Accepted payment methods:

Late fee (annualized): Charges apply to overdue balances and accrue monthly where permitted by law.

Expenses

The Client will reimburse Advisor for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this engagement, including travel, document reproduction and third-party fees. Reimbursement requires submission of receipts or reasonable substantiation.

Client Responsibilities

The Client will provide timely access to financial records, management, and other information necessary for performance. Failure to provide requested information may result in delay, additional fees, or termination of the engagement.

Client Obligations

Confidentiality and Use of Information

Advisor will treat Client information as confidential and will not disclose such information except as required by law or to perform the engagement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Advisor may disclose aggregate or anonymized data that does not identify the Client.

Client acknowledges that valuation conclusions are based on information provided and assumptions agreed between the parties. Advisor shall not be responsible for errors or omissions in Client-supplied information.

Limitation of Liability; Indemnification

Except for willful misconduct or gross negligence, Advisor's aggregate liability arising out of this engagement shall not exceed the fees paid to Advisor for the specific engagement. Client shall indemnify and hold Advisor harmless from claims arising from Client-provided information or use of the deliverables by third parties in contravention of this agreement.

Termination

Either party may terminate this engagement upon written notice. Client is responsible for fees earned and expenses incurred up to the effective date of termination, including reasonable wind‑down costs.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state identified below without regard to conflict of law principles. The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to resolve disputes; unresolved disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration under commercially reasonable rules selected by the parties.

Governing law state:

Conflicts and Independence

Advisor has disclosed any known conflicts of interest. If any potential conflict arises during the engagement, Advisor will notify Client promptly and take steps to address it. For valuation assignments where independence is required, such requirements will be specified in writing.

Acceptance

By signing below, the parties agree to the terms set forth in this Engagement Agreement and authorize Advisor to proceed with the services described herein.

Client:

By:

Date:

For Financial Valuation Advisors:

By:

Date:

Overview of the Financial Valuation Advisors document

A Financial Valuation Advisors document is an engagement and reporting template used by valuation professionals to record the scope, methodology, assumptions, and conclusions for an asset, business interest, or portfolio valuation. It defines the parties, identifies the subject of valuation, lists relevant financial statements and data sources, and summarizes valuation approaches such as income, market, and cost methods. The document also records limiting conditions, disclaimers, and the advisor’s qualifications so recipients can assess reliance, use, and the intended purpose of the valuation opinion.

Why a formal Financial Valuation Advisors engagement matters

A structured valuation report clarifies assumptions, documents procedures, and creates an auditable record for transactions, tax reporting, litigation, financing, or internal decision-making. It reduces dispute risk by stating purpose, scope, and limitations in writing.

Who typically prepares and who relies on these documents

The Financial Valuation Advisors form supports a range of users from practice owners to corporate finance teams and third-party reviewers.

Valuation professionals and certified appraisers who prepare the engagement letter and report for clients.
Corporate finance, tax, and M&A teams that use the valuation for transaction pricing, impairment testing, or reporting.
Lenders, auditors, tax authorities, and courts that rely on documented methodology and findings.

Use clear signatory authority and documented assumptions so downstream users can assess admissibility and reliability.

Essential components included in a professional valuation engagement

A complete Financial Valuation Advisors package combines administrative details, factual data, analytical workpapers, and the final opinion. Each component supports transparency, repeatability, and defensibility of conclusions.

Engagement Letter

States purpose, scope, deliverables, fees, limiting conditions, and confidentiality terms that govern the valuation engagement.

Client and Subject Data

Lists financial statements, contracts, capitalization table, ownership records, and any non-financial factors material to valuation.

Valuation Methods

Describes approaches used (income, market, cost), key inputs, discount rates, multiples, and rationale for method selection.

Workpapers and Calculations

Includes supporting schedules, forecasting assumptions, sensitivity analyses, and reconciliations to source documents.

Valuation Conclusion

Presents the concluded value(s), rounding conventions, and any value ranges or scenarios with explanatory notes.

Qualifications and Limitations

Advisor credentials, statements on intended use, restrictions on distribution, and disclaimers addressing reliance and contingencies.

Required data elements and standard metadata

Client Name: Full legal entity name

Valuation Subject: Asset or interest description

Engagement Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Reporting Purpose: Transaction, tax, litigation, financial reporting

Data Sources: FS, contracts, market comps

Advisor Signatory: Name and title of responsible professional

Step-by-step: preparing a Financial Valuation Advisors report

Follow a documented sequence to ensure completeness and defensibility of the valuation opinion.

01

1. Define scope: Clarify purpose, effective date, and intended users.
02

2. Collect data: Gather financials, contracts, and market evidence.
03

3. Select methods: Choose income, market, or cost approaches and justify choice.
04

4. Document conclusion: Prepare final opinion, disclosures, and signer certification.

Typical workflow for engagement, review, and delivery

Valuation workflows move from client intake through review to final delivery and retention of records.

Intake: Engagement letter signed and scope confirmed.
Analysis: Modeling and benchmarking performed with documented inputs.
Review: Peer or supervisory review of methods and calculations.
Delivery: Final report issued to authorized recipients with audit trail.

Online workflow settings commonly used for valuations

When digitizing the valuation process, configure document fields, signer roles, and access levels to protect integrity and chain of custody.

Field	Configuration
Engagement Date	Required; MM/DD/YYYY format
Client Signature	Signature field with signer role
Advisor Certification	Mandatory signature + title field
Confidential Attachment	Protected upload channel for source documents

Digital signing and security considerations

Ensure the eSignature platform supports audit trails, secure storage, and appropriate authentication for report signatories.

Audit Trail: Capture IP, timestamp, and action history for every signer
Authentication: Use email verification, SMS code, or advanced methods for high-risk transactions
Data Protection: Maintain encryption in transit and at rest

Choose settings that preserve evidentiary value while balancing signer convenience and security requirements.

Common timeframes and deadlines tied to valuation use cases

Timelines derive from the intended use—tax reporting, transaction closings, or financial reporting each impose different date constraints and coordination needs.

Transaction Closings:

Coordinate report effective date with closing date; allow 1–4 weeks for full analysis

Tax Filings:

Provide valuation well before filing deadlines to allow for review and potential adjustments

Financial Reporting:

Impairment or fair-value work should tie to fiscal year-end; permit 2–6 weeks for analysis

Litigation:

Adopt discovery schedules; expert reports often have court-ordered deadlines

Regulatory Reviews:

Allow additional time for regulator inquiries and data requests

Common pitfalls when preparing valuation reports

Using inconsistent dates between financial statements and valuation effective date that invalidate comparability.
Failing to document key assumptions or source data, which weakens defensibility under scrutiny.
Omitting necessary disclaimers or purpose statements, leading to unintended reliance by third parties.
Inadequate signer authentication or missing signatory authority that creates admissibility problems.

Risks and consequences of incorrect or incomplete valuations

Tax Adjustments: Additional taxes and interest

Regulatory Sanctions: Fines or enforcement actions

Contractual Disputes: Breach claims or renegotiation

Professional Liability: Malpractice or negligence claims

Loss of Credibility: Reduced client trust and referrals

Operational Delay: Transaction postponement or cancellation

eSignature vendor comparison for executing valuation documents

Comparing platform features and pricing helps select an eSignature solution that preserves auditability and meets compliance needs for valuation engagements.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

FAQs: execution, validity, and practical questions

Answers to common questions about signing, recordkeeping, and legal validity of Financial Valuation Advisors documents.

Need help? Contact support

Can the valuation be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided the parties consent and the record is retained.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on state law and document purpose. For example, deeds routinely require notary acknowledgment; many valuation reports do not, but signatures on underlying affidavits may.
What authentication is recommended?
Use at least email verification and consider SMS or knowledge-based authentication for high-value transactions to strengthen attribution and reduce challenge risk.
How long should records be retained?
Retain valuation reports and workpapers at least three years after filing or seven years post-termination as appropriate; HIPAA-related records require six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).
Are remote online notarizations acceptable?
Many states permit RON with identity proofing and recorded video; verify state RON rules because status and technical requirements vary.
What happens if the signer name differs from legal records?
Name mismatches can delay acceptance or trigger verification requests; ensure signer uses the exact legal name or attach proof of authority to sign.

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