Tips for Selecting a Property Tax Lawyer & Tax Lien Lawyer

1. Ask people you know if they know of a property tax attorney. Receiving a referral from someone who has had direct experience with a professional and whose judgment you can trust can be a very reliable guide.


2. Schedule an appointment to speak with a lawyer by phone. During your phone appointment you should ask the lawyer how they would approach your case. Also ask if they handle property tax appeals on a contingency fee basis and if they will discuss your property tax with you, without an initial fee. Typically many property tax appeal lawyers will handle your case on a contingency fee basis (the fee generally depends on the outcome), and will briefly discuss your property tax without the initial fee.


3. Check to see if the attorney has a website or a blog. Spend sometime reading through the website and looking through the material offered, being sure to see if they have any information relevant to your case.


4. Find out what Legal and appraisal or assessment organizations the lawyer belongs to. At a minimum they should belong to the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). This is a national professional organization for government officials responsible for assessment of local property taxes.


5. Find out if they have earned a Martindale-Hubbell rating."AV" is the highest ability and ethics rating based on the opinion of lawyers and judges who know the attorney. Only 10% of American Lawyers have achieved this rating. Only 50% of all attorneys have earned a rating, so any A-B-C rated lawyers are in the top 50%. It should be noted that you cannot earn the ability rating unless you have also earned the highest ethics rating, the "V" rating.


6. Don't let advertising slogans such as "former local government attorney" or "aggressive property tax advocate" fool you. It is always best to meet with the lawyer first to decide if you have confidence in their skills and feel comfortable with the analysis of your property.


7. Ask if the attorney has ever taught at a law school (or CLE program)or published a legal or tax assessment article. Teaching and publishing require research and dedication, as well as commitment to good practice policies. This is also a great way to determine that your lawyer is both knowledgeable of the specific area of practice and their standing in the legal community.


8. Ask who will be working your case if you hire this attorney, and what their experience level is. Be sure to inquire what portion of work will the additional people be doing and what will be the attorney's participation in your property tax appeal? Will the attorney attend all the hearings? If not, do they sometimes assign this task to nonlawyers, as they are authorized to do most jurisdictions?


9. Discuss the facts of your caseThe attorney should be able to discuss in general terms how they will proceed and how your tax appeal will be handled.


10. Inquire about the law office's communication with clients and what the attorney's policy is regarding updating you of the progress of your tax appeal

Seek Personalized Representation

If you wish to appeal your property tax assessment, it is critical to consult with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of real estate and tax law, and who is experienced in dealing with tax assessors, review boards, and the courts. 

Attorney Robert A. Hill has over 20 years of experience in tax appeals, giving him the legal knowledge needed to help you with your appeal. Our experienced tax lien lawyers in Wisconsin and Minnesota will provide the best services for your litigation issues.

To speak with a Wisconsin Tax Lien Lawyer, contact Robert Hill Law, Ltd. today.