Law Offices of David Lee Rice, APLC

The Law Offices of David Lee Rice, APLC is a Torrance-based firm that handles tax law, estate planning, and legal services for individuals and businesses across the South Bay. Attorney David Lee Rice brings a legal background that spans tax controversy, estate administration, and business planning, giving clients a more comprehensive view of how property taxes fit into their broader financial and legal picture. The firm's location in Torrance puts it close to clients throughout the South Bay, including Redondo Beach, Hawthorne, Carson, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. For property tax matters specifically, the firm approaches appeals as legal proceedings rather than purely administrative ones, which can matter in complex cases involving disputed valuations, change-in-ownership determinations, or properties with unusual characteristics. Clients who are dealing with both estate planning and property tax issues, such as those managing inherited property under Proposition 19's new rules, often find it useful to have both matters handled by the same attorney.

The firm handles property tax appeals before the Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board, with particular strength in cases that intersect with legal issues. This includes disputes over change-in-ownership determinations, which can trigger unwanted reassessments on properties that were intended to transfer without tax consequences under family exclusions. On the estate planning side, the firm helps clients structure property transfers to minimize reassessment exposure where possible under current California law. This has become more complex since Proposition 19 took effect, and Rice's familiarity with both tax and estate law is a real asset for clients navigating inherited real estate. The firm also handles tax law matters including IRS and state tax controversies, audit representation, and business entity formation with tax considerations built in. For clients with both property tax and income or estate tax issues, this breadth means fewer handoffs between advisors. Legal services extend to general business law, contract review, and related transactional matters for small to mid-sized business clients in the South Bay area.

Clients typically start with a consultation focused on their specific situation, whether that's a property tax appeal, an estate planning matter, or both. For property tax cases, the attorney reviews the current assessment, the property's ownership history, and any recent changes that may have triggered a reassessment. If an appeal is appropriate, the firm handles the full process including filing, evidence preparation, and hearing representation. For cases involving disputed change-in-ownership rulings, the legal framing matters significantly, and the firm treats those as the legal proceedings they technically are. For estate and property tax planning, the process involves reviewing existing trust documents, deed structures, and ownership arrangements to identify exposure under the current rules. Recommendations are practical and specific to the client's actual property and family situation, not generic planning templates. The firm aims to give clients a clear picture of options and costs before any significant work begins.

The firm serves clients throughout the South Bay and greater Los Angeles County, with a primary focus on Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Carson, Gardena, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Estate planning and tax law clients come from across Los Angeles County and occasionally from outside the county when the matter involves California property. Remote consultations are available for clients who can't come to the Torrance office.