Specializing Attorneys
Van DeWater & Van DeWater LLP is one of the preeminent law firms in the area of real property tax assessment, abatement and exemption matters. Our attorneys have years of experience representing all manner of property owners in challenging the real estate tax assessment on a given property, through a process known as tax certiorari, to attempt to reduce the property’s assessment, and as a result, its real estate taxes.
Our real estate tax assessment attorneys have extensively represented high profile commercial developers, large scale property owners and individual residents in real estate tax certiorari and exemption matters. Their experience includes successful actions pertaining to, for example, the main IBM plant in Poughkeepsie to the South Hills Mall, as well as with respect to apartment complexes, nursing homes, office buildings, motels, mobile home parks, manufacturing plants and residential estates.
In addition to tax certiorari proceedings, our real property tax attorneys are well-versed in crafting real estate tax strategies for our clients, whether it be in the procurement of an applicable real estate tax exemption, the negotiation of a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement or through certain abatement programs.
When negotiation is not an option, our real estate tax attorneys have extensive litigation experience, appearing in courts throughout the State and have argued before the New York Court of Appeals (New York’s highest court). Indeed, the real estate tax lawyers at Van DeWater & Van DeWater LLP have litigated numerous exemption cases and condemnation proceedings and been involved in equalization rate protests with the New York State Office of Real Property Services (ORPS), whose mission is to lead the State’s efforts to support local governments in their pursuit of real property tax equity.
The firm also prides itself in working closely with town assessors and boards of assessment review.