Fair Assessment

Property tax appeals · checked 30 October 2026

Do you need a property tax appeal lawyer?

For an ordinary home, usually not: most counties design the first appeal for homeowners to file alone, and some say so outright. A lawyer starts to earn their fee on commercial property, high-value homes, and appeals that go to a state board or court.

Want the answer for your own case? Use the tool, then read on for the details.

Check if my home is over-assessed

When you can do it yourself

  • A normal home with clear comparable sales. Three to five similar homes that sold for less, or are assessed lower, is the core of most appeals.
  • Counties that say no lawyer is needed. Lake County, Illinois, states that "No attorney is required for a residential appeal." Cook County takes free online appeals at both the Assessor and the Board of Review.
  • A missing exemption, which is usually a form, not a legal argument.

When a lawyer is worth it

  • Commercial, rental or mixed-use property, where value rests on income and expense data.
  • Large disputed amounts, where a small percentage cut is worth a lot each year.
  • Later stages: a state board such as Illinois' Property Tax Appeal Board, or court. In Georgia, a Superior Court appeal requires paying at least last year's tax first, and you may recover attorney's fees if the final value is 85% or less of the earlier decision.

How they charge

  • Contingency is common: nothing up front and a share of the tax you save. Appeal company Ownwell, for example, says it charges homeowners 25% to 35% of the saving.
  • Read the term: is it the first year's saving only, or every year until you cancel?
  • Ask whether they charge on savings from an exemption you could have claimed yourself.

Start by checking whether your assessment is actually high. If it isn't, no lawyer can help much.

Check if my home is over-assessed

Next: appeal companies and fees · what to say at the hearing · 5 steps to do it yourself · Illinois PTAB · Georgia appeals.

Sources: Lake County, Illinois "Assessment Notices" page; Georgia Department of Revenue "Filing a Property Tax Appeal"; Ownwell FAQ. Read 23 to 30 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.