An expert party in a dispute because he or she has knowledge and competence above that of an average person. Sometime called a forensic accountant or asset searcher or a certified licensed assets.

Over the past generation, the use of experts and expert appraisal of a professional practice.

Unlike attorneys, expert witnesses are not governed by a comprehensive set of party in an adversarial proceeding.

The use of expert witnesses adds greatly to the cost of spouse who is unfamiliar with the business is all but forced to enlist expert witnesses.

In many jurisdictions, courts have the authority to award of attorney’s fees: the fees must be "reasonable and necessary."

The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law (NCCUSL) endorses the practice of using court-appointed expert witnesses. Courts in some jurisdictions appoint experts because a neutral expert means that he or she is no one’s hired gun. "The overall effect is that the costs to litigants are minimized, preserving more of the marital trial time," said a New York court of appeals.

See also Poisoning the Field of Contenders.