Legal Fee for Tax Certiorari or Condemnation

Introduction

By ethical rules, lawyers must have a written engagement letter with a client if the fee will be $3,000 or more. In the area of Tax Certiorari and Condemnation, the usual fee charged by McCarthy Fingar and other lawyers is a contingent fee.

Contingent Fees

Assessment reductions by either the Assessor, Board of Review or Supreme Court (tax certiorari), depending upon how soon achieved, results in a tax savings going forward or a tax refund if the taxes already have been paid. This is because taxes are a function of the assessment, i.e, the lower the assessment, the lower the taxes, and vice versa. In condemnation, we aim to achieve fair compensation for our clients. In both types of cases, McCarthy Fingar’s usual retainer with our client is result-oriented: our fee is contingent upon success. McCarthy Fingar usually follows the contingent fee tradition in these type of cases, charging a percentage of the recovery or a percentage of tax saving, when in an assessment reduction proceeding, we attain a reduction before taxes are imposed upon the assessment at issue. Without a recovery, the client usually pays nothing except for court fees and an appraisal when required.

Contact Us

McCarthy Fingar’s Tax Certiorari and Condemnation lawyers are dedicated to our clients’ success. If you think you may require our assistance or have any questions, please contact Stephen Davis by email (sdavis@mccarthyfingar.com) or by phone (914-385-1011).