Finding success with your Illinois property tax appeal takes time and effort, but with the highest property taxes in the nation, fighting your assessment is almost always worth it. Due to the complexities of the system, many protestors look for a representative who can take care of issues on their behalf. Due to Illinois law, only a certified attorney can sign legal documents for you and represent you in hearings in front of the Board of Review (BOR) or the Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB).
At O’Connor, we support our clients with assessment review, analysis, and the evidence needed to support your appeal. To continue the process, we coordinate with Kieta Law, who handles the legal filing and represents you in hearings. One key aspect of this process is getting your paperwork in order. The most important of these is the Attorney Engagement Letter, which allows Kieta Law to act on your behalf. In this article, we will go over some of the important documents that you need to position for the best appeal possible.
Attorney Engagement Letter
The Attorney Engagement Letter is the most important document that you need to sign, and it sets out what your attorney has the authority to do on your behalf, what representation from them will entail, what your fee structure will look like, and more. If you are engaging an attorney for a property tax appeal, then your Attorney Engagement Letter will state that your attorney only has legal authority to handle matters related to your appeal, and nothing else. Without this permission, your lawyer could never put in the legal work needed to get you the best reduction possible. In fact, it is required under Illinois law that you give them this authorization for them to even begin your case.
This authority provides a narrow scope of activity. It can only be used to carry out the negotiated tasks, in this case, representing you before the BOR or PTAB. This allows your representative to appear before the BOR, sign legal documents for you, and do other things pertaining to your case. A good agreement should give you a breakdown of compensation, the ability to cancel at any time, and a comprehensive list of tasks that need to be performed. With this authorization in hand, your attorney can then use the gathered evidence to prove your appeal before the BOR, possibly saving you thousands of dollars every year.
Who can Sign an Attorney Engagement Letter?
When it comes to a property tax appeal, the Attorney Engagement Letter can only be signed by the property owner of record. For residential property, the name on the letter must match the name recorded on your deed with the county. You cannot enroll someone else for legal services. If you are married and only your spouse’s name is on the deed, they will need to sign the letter. For businesses, the owner on record must be the one to sign the letter. If the business is owned by a corporation, then a trustee or corporate officer may sign up for services, as long as they have documentation confirming that they have that authority.
Kieta Law
O’Connor focuses on building evidence to assist you in reducing your taxes. We coordinate your appeal with legal experts who know the law inside and out. Kieta Law LLC is a local law firm, experienced in Illinois property tax representation and ensures that each case is properly filed and supported to help clients save the most money possible. Led by David Kieta, who formerly worked for the Cook County Board of Review, the firm has abundant experience representing both homeowners and businesses. O’Connor provides you and Kieta Law with the evidence and analysis needed for your case, which gives you comprehensive support against the challenges of the Illinois property tax appeal system.
Signing the O’Connor Service Agreement
Similar to the Attorney Letter of Engagement, O’Connor’s service agreement is necessary for O’Connor to begin our work gathering and analyzing data on your behalf. This agreement outlines the scope and responsibilities of our services and lists our fee structure, so you understand the process and how it works. This agreement confirms in writing that you will not face any upfront fees and will only be responsible for payment once you have secured savings on your property tax appeal.
O’Connor Brings Clarity and Transparency to the Process
O’Connor has been helping clients with their property taxes for over 50 years. As one of the largest firms in the United States, we have taken on assessors and local government entities all across the nation. With over 185,000 clients, we continue to aid people in their quest for fair and equitable taxation. We pride ourselves on our data and results. You trust us with your home or business, and we are up to the task. We stand by our clients, our information, and any document that we ask you to sign.
When you sign up with us, there are never any hidden fees, and you will only pay for our analysis, research, and evidence if you and Kieta Law are able to lower your property taxes. This contingency fee is revealed to you right away, so you do not have to worry about any surprises. When you partner with O’Connor, you get support with over 50 years of experience, the resources of a national company, and the expertise of a firm that has a local presence in Illinois, with a branch office in Aurora. We will gather evidence for you, analyze your assessment, and use our proprietary database of property sales and comparisons to give you an edge in your appeal.
