Is a state law that requires appraisers to keep workfiles for 10 years considered a jurisdictional exception under USPAP?

A state law that mandates appraisers to maintain workfiles for a period of 10 years does not qualify as a jurisdictional exception under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Jurisdictional exceptions are specific provisions that allow appraisers to deviate from USPAP requirements due to some overriding state law or regulation. For a state law to be considered a jurisdictional exception, it must directly contradict a specific requirement in USPAP. In this case, USPAP requires that workfiles be retained for a minimum of five years after the completion of an appraisal assignment. Since the state law specifies a longer retention period, it does not create a conflict with USPAP. Rather, it imposes a more stringent requirement, which appraisers must comply with in addition to USPAP's standards.

Thus, the requirement to retain workfiles for 10 years aligns with USPAP's framework instead of creating a jurisdictional exception. The overall goal of USPAP is to ensure that appraisals are conducted professionally and ethically, while the state law serves to enhance these standards by extending the retention period.