RJS Law

RJS Law is a Beverly Hills firm that handles property tax appeals for residential and commercial clients throughout Los Angeles County. The attorneys bring a strong background in both real estate law and tax law, which matters when an assessment dispute involves recent ownership transfers, properties held in LLCs or trusts, or Proposition 13 base year questions. The firm works with homeowners, investors, and businesses who want proper legal representation rather than just a consultant filing paperwork. The team doesn't take a volume approach to appeals. Before recommending a filing, RJS Law reviews your assessed value against recent comparable sales to determine whether the case is actually worth pursuing. That honesty saves clients time and money, even when it occasionally means turning down work. For properties that do warrant an appeal, the firm handles everything from filing the initial application through the Assessment Appeals Board hearing.

RJS Law offers a full range of property tax services for both residential and commercial property owners in California. At the core is assessment appeal representation, where the firm's attorneys prepare and file formal appeals with the county Assessment Appeals Board, gather supporting evidence, and argue your case at hearings. They also handle decline-in-value claims, which allow owners to request a temporary reduction when the current market value has dropped below the assessed value. For commercial clients, RJS Law digs into the income approach and cost approach used to value income-producing properties. Hotels, office buildings, retail centers, and industrial facilities all have unique valuation factors, and the attorneys have experience presenting detailed income and expense analyses to the appeals board. Change of ownership exemptions and base year value transfers under Propositions 58 and 19 are areas where the firm provides meaningful guidance. Beyond appeals, RJS Law advises on structuring real estate transactions to minimize property tax consequences. When you're buying or selling California real estate, certain deal structures can trigger a reassessment while others preserve an existing low base year value. The firm reviews purchase agreements, entity structures, and transfer arrangements to help clients understand the tax implications before they close.

The process starts with a free consultation where an attorney reviews your property's current assessed value, recent sale prices of comparable properties, and any prior appeal history. If the data suggests your assessment is too high, they'll recommend filing an appeal and explain what that involves. Once you agree to move forward, RJS Law handles the paperwork. They file the application with the county Assessment Appeals Board within the required deadlines, which in Los Angeles County are strict. The firm then builds the evidentiary record, pulling comparable sales data, income and expense reports for commercial properties, and any other documentation that supports a lower valuation. At the hearing, an attorney presents your case before the appeals board and responds to the assessor's arguments. If the board rules in your favor, the county adjusts your assessed value and issues a refund for any overpaid taxes. If the outcome isn't satisfactory, the firm can advise on further options including filing in superior court.

RJS Law's Beverly Hills office primarily serves property owners throughout Los Angeles County, including Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, and the San Fernando Valley. The firm also handles cases in neighboring counties including Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino. Commercial clients with properties spread across multiple California counties can work with the firm on a portfolio basis, since California property tax rules are consistent statewide even though appeals are administered at the county level.