Property Value Challenges

If you own property in Pinellas County, you likely received your property assessments this past week. The property appraiser's office mailed the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices on Monday, August 24, 2009.

The TRIM notice includes the home owner's property taxes, property assessments, and proposed millage rates set by various taxing entities. The market value shown on the 2009 TRIM notice is based on market condition and ownership status as of January 1, 2009 and is determined by analyzing sales that took place in 2008.

Property owners have until Friday, September 18, 2009 to file a petition challenging the notice. For the first time in Pinellas County, property owners who disagree with their property value assessments can file petitions to go before the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) online via the Clerk’s website, www.mypinellasclerk.org, beginning on Monday, August 31, according to Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court. Other methods of petitioning to go before the VAB are still available. The forms can be accessed online, then mailed or filed in person at the Clerk’s Board Records department located on the fifth floor of the Clearwater Courthouse, 315 Court St., Clearwater or may be dropped off at one of these Clerk’s branch offices: the St. Petersburg Branch at 545 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg; the Tyrone Branch at 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg or the North County Branch at 29582 U.S. 19, Clearwater.

The Value Adjustment Board serves as the decision-making authority between the property owners and the property appraiser when there is a disagreement over exemptions, valuations and classifications. Once a petition is filed, a quasi-judicial hearing is scheduled with a special magistrate. For more information, visit the Value Adjustment Board page at www.mypinellasclerk.org or call Board Records at 727-464-3458.

OUTSOURCING a/k/a Do you really know who is representing you?

A relatively new and growing trend in providing legal services is "outsourcing." This is apparently when the lawyer or law firm you hire delegates some of its legal work to someone else generally somewhere else. I do not do this. Of course, I am well aware of this cost-cutting strategy with some businesses, like your telephone company, but I personally do not think it is a good choice for legal work.

As a sole practitioner I develop very close relationships with my clients. I chalk that up to the fact that I am the one and only lawyer you will have representing you if you hire me. Your case will not get bumped down the line to a newer associate or to another colleague. I handle all my cases personally. I also know that the particular area of law I practice makes this personal relationship even more important to most of my clients. They have to share very intimate facts about their lives and families.

The Florida Bar Board of Governors is now considering modifying a prior opinion they gave approving the outsourcing of legal services. It seems like common sense to me that this trend is fraught with potential problems that will ultimately erode public confidence in the legal system. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Child Support & Contempt

Probably in large part because of the downward turn in the economy I am more apt to see cases involving non-payment of previously ordered child support. I have represented clients on both sides of this issue. Sometimes the paying party really cannot afford to pay the support because of job loss or wage decrease or illness or injury. Of course, the reality is the children's needs continue regardless of the economy or life's circumstances. Therefore the Courts often have to make the decisions regarding these difficult issues. There really is no easy solution because each family's needs are different and must be examined individually.