Patrick E McGinnis Attorney at Law

Patrick E. McGinnis has spent decades working in California property tax law, and his Beverly Hills practice reflects that depth. He focuses almost entirely on property tax appeals and assessment disputes, which means clients get an attorney who's seen nearly every variation of how county assessors miscalculate or overvalue real estate. His approach is methodical and evidence-driven, and he's not afraid to take a case all the way through the Assessment Appeals Board if that's what it takes. The Beverly Hills location puts him right in the heart of one of California's most complex real estate markets. High-value residential properties, commercial holdings, and mixed-use developments all come with unique valuation challenges. McGinnis understands the local market data well and uses comparable sales analysis alongside income approach modeling to build strong cases for reduction.

McGinnis concentrates his practice on California property tax matters, giving clients a level of specialization that general tax attorneys rarely match. His core service is formal property tax appeals filed with the county Assessment Appeals Board, covering both residential and commercial properties across Los Angeles County and neighboring jurisdictions. He handles Proposition 8 temporary reduction requests, which are particularly valuable when market values have dropped below the Prop 13 base year value. For commercial clients, he works through income-based assessments and challenges to capitalization rate assumptions that assessors often apply too aggressively. Change of ownership disputes are another key area. California's reassessment rules under Proposition 19 and prior Proposition 58 are complicated, and errors by the assessor are common after property transfers, trust changes, or inheritance events. McGinnis reviews these situations carefully and files the appropriate exclusion claims or correction requests. He also advises clients before a sale or purchase on likely assessment outcomes, so there are no surprises after the transaction closes. That kind of proactive guidance is something most property owners don't think to ask for until it's too late.

The process starts with a free initial review of your property's current assessed value and any recent notices you've received. McGinnis will look at comparable sales, income data for commercial properties, and any recent assessor communications to form an honest opinion of whether an appeal is worth pursuing. If the case looks strong, he files the Application for Changed Assessment with the county. From there, he prepares a detailed evidence packet and handles all communication with the assessor's office during the informal review phase. Many cases settle at this stage without a full hearing. For cases that go to a formal hearing, he prepares witnesses, organizes appraisal evidence, and presents the case directly to the Assessment Appeals Board. After a decision is issued, he advises on whether further legal remedies make sense. Clients get regular updates throughout, and nothing moves forward without their sign-off.

McGinnis serves property owners throughout Los Angeles County, with particular depth in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Bel Air, Santa Monica, and the surrounding Westside communities. He also handles cases in Ventura County and Orange County when the facts are strong. His central Beverly Hills office makes in-person meetings easy for clients who own high-value properties in these markets.