I know from experience that Americans enjoy appraisals. People like to tell and listen to the stories of family heirlooms, fine art, collectibles and antiques.

I know this is the case because worldwide, I conduct more than 100 public appraisal events annually where I simultaneously teach people about their heirlooms and provide art and antique appraisals. These events, coupled with in-home appraisal appointments, annually bring about 20,000 objects to me to evaluate for clients who want to know what they have and what their stuff is really worth.

While people are enjoying themselves attending appraisal events or watching appraisal shows on TV, many people never realize that at certain times in their lives they, too, will need an appraisal.

There are three major occasions in everyone's life when you need an unbiased appraisal, the type of appraisal you can only get from an expert who is not interested in buying (dealer) or selling (auction house) your valuables.

I call these times of change the three Ds — Death, divorce and downsizing. They're the typical periods in your life when you need an appraisal of your stuff, including furniture, art, jewelry, antiques and collectibles.

THE 3 Ds

You need an appraisal when you have experienced a death in your family prior to liquidating, donating, or distributing objects to family members.

You need an appraisal if you feel that you may soon experience or are in the midst of a divorce, in order to protect yourself. Although feuding couples will appraise their real estate and their automobiles, both men and women rarely realize that they need a personal property appraisal during a divorce. Community property — like an antique lamp — purchased during a marriage may prove more valuable than you think.

Also, you need an appraisal when you are downsizing from a larger house to a smaller one.

When life throws a curve ball, it's time for an appraisal. I tell my in-home appraisal clients that when it rains, it pours. When everything is busy, you probably need an appraisal. For instance, many people obtain appraisals to update their insurance policies in order to protect their personal property. Appraisals are a very good idea before a move in order to protect objects from damage and to get proper insurance for art and antiques — which are not usually covered under regular homeowner's policies.

You need an appraisal before you enter into the important financial contract known as marriage, too.

Many people are getting an appraisal with the prenup. Appraisals are a good idea following the birth of a child so new parents can evaluate their financial situation and begin planning for that child's future. People also obtain appraisals when they are preparing or updating their wills. I can't tell you how many elderly parents tell me that they are interested in obtaining an unbiased appraisal for those family objects that they are handing down to their children. These folks tell me that they don't want one child to end up with a very valuable item just because the parents didn't know it was more valuable than the item that was gifted to another child.

Didn't think you needed an appraisal? Think again. Times, they are a-changin'.

A Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, award-winning TV personality and TV talk show host, Dr. Lori presents antiques appraisal events. Visit www.drloriv.com; Facebook.com/DoctorLori; or call 888-431-1010.