Kirk Edward Schenck, PC

Kirk Edward Schenck has practiced property tax law in Los Angeles for decades, building a client base that spans individual homeowners to large commercial property owners. His practice, structured as a professional corporation, handles the full range of California property tax matters, from initial assessment reviews through formal appeals before the Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board. He's worked through almost every variation of how county assessors can get values wrong and knows how to build a case that holds up. The firm runs on a focused model: Kirk handles cases personally and manages caseloads carefully so each matter gets real attention. His background covers both the legal and valuation sides of property tax work, which matters in commercial cases where the county's income-approach methodology needs to be challenged on its own terms. His 5.0 rating reflects what clients report consistently: thoroughness, clear communication, and an attorney who delivers what he promises.

Kirk Schenck's practice covers the full cycle of California property tax appeal work. That starts with a no-cost review of your assessment to determine whether the county's number is defensible or worth challenging. If there's a case, he handles preparation and filing of the appeal application with the Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board, manages the exchange of information with the Assessor's office, and represents clients through the full hearing process. A significant portion of the practice involves commercial property tax work. For income-producing properties like apartment buildings, retail centers, office buildings, and industrial facilities, the Assessor uses an income capitalization approach that depends on assumptions about market rents, vacancy rates, and capitalization rates. When those assumptions don't reflect current market conditions, the resulting assessment can be substantially overstated. Kirk has the background to challenge those assumptions, drawing on both legal arguments and appraisal principles. Residential work includes base year value disputes, Proposition 8 decline-in-value claims, and challenges to supplemental assessments triggered by change-of-ownership events. He also handles the full range of transfer exclusion applications under Proposition 19, including parent-child and grandparent-grandchild exclusions and base year value transfers for qualifying seniors. Each of these involves specific documentation requirements and deadlines that have to be handled correctly the first time.

The process starts with sharing your assessment notice and property details. Kirk reviews the enrolled value against comparable sales and, for commercial properties, against actual income and expense data. This initial review is at no charge and is designed to give you a straight answer about whether a challenge is worth pursuing. If the analysis supports an appeal, he files the application before the September 15 deadline for the regular assessment roll, or within the applicable window for supplemental or escape assessments. After filing, the preparation phase begins: pulling sales comparables, reviewing the Assessor's work file, and for commercial properties, building the income analysis that supports your case at hearing. Hearings before the Assessment Appeals Board are formal proceedings with rules of evidence and procedure that matter. Kirk handles the full presentation, including expert testimony and response to the county's evidence. After the hearing, he explains the outcome and what it means for your taxes going forward, including whether the decision creates any further opportunities or obligations.

Kirk Schenck serves property owners throughout Los Angeles County, including the city of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, Century City, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and the San Fernando Valley. The practice handles residential and commercial properties at all price points, from modest homes to large commercial portfolios. Since California property tax appeals are administered at the county level, this practice is built specifically around the Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board and the LA County Assessor's office.