Seth D. Lubin, P.A. 2026 Property Tax Appeals Representation Terms and Conditions
1. Term and Representation. Initially, Seth D. Lubin, P.A. (“Attorney”) will represent Client for the Tax Year 2026.
1.1 Attorney will not be bound or expected to file a Petition, when applicable, if the administrative fees per folio are not received by us with the executed Authorization by the Petition Filing Deadlines as specified by any Florida county. Please check the property appraiser’s website in the county of the client's property for individual petition filing deadlines.
1.2 If required by the Property Appraiser or VAB, Client authorizes us to identify Client as one of our clients.
2. Information. To perform the best job possible on Client’s behalf, we need to ensure we have the proper information from Client. At various times, we may request information from Client about your property, and we expect Client to provide such information within 10 days of any request for these documents. Client is responsible for furnishing us with the complete, correct, and current information needed to file a Petition. However, Attorney cannot be responsible or liable for any errors in the information that Client provides to us. We may, at our own expense, engage outside consultants and independent contractors to add to the analysis of your property, attend VAB hearings in the Attorney’s place, or negotiate with Property Appraiser(s). The attorney will always supervise any consultants hired.
3. Fees. Your fee structure is broken down into two separate fees:
A. Administrative Fee – This fee is $79.00 per folio and is earned upon receipt. It compensates Attorney for initial research on Client's property, preparation and filing of the petition (including the VAB filing fee), intake work, and negotiation with the Property Appraiser. This fee is nonrefundable and will not be credited against the contingency fee.
B. Contingency Fee: As compensation for representation by Attorney, Client agrees to pay us forty-five percent (45%) of any tax reductions or credits (“Savings”) Client receives based on the lowering of the assessed taxable values of the property listed above. This fee is paid regardless of the method used by the Attorney to reduce said taxable values (e.g., negotiating with the property appraiser prior to any hearing). Savings can be realized in several ways, including, but not limited to: (i) if Client pays the taxes prior to a reduction in value, and the Client pays the tax personally (and not through escrow), Client should receive a check directly from the County for the overpayment; or (ii) if Client pays their property taxes via escrow, any Savings achieved will be sent to their escrow management company by the County; or (iii) if a reduction occurs prior to the Client’s payment of taxes, Client’s tax bill will reflect the lower valuation and not a refund check from the County. In the case of (i) above, the amount of the refund check sent to the Client’s mailing address listed on your county’s website will be considered the Savings. In the case of (ii) above, the amount of the refund check sent to the Escrow servicing company will be considered the Savings. In the case of (iii) above, the Savings will be calculated by multiplying the subject property’s millage rate by the reduction in the value achieved by the Attorney. If Client sells or transfers the property during the engagement, Client remains personally liable for all fees earned and shall notify Attorney of any pending sale.
The contingency fee applies only to Savings realized for the 2026 tax year. Client acknowledges that a reduction in assessed value may also reduce taxes in future years; Attorney claims no fee on any future year savings unless Client engages Attorney for that year under a separate agreement.
4. Upon request, Attorney will provide either a Resolve Form signed by the Property Appraiser showing a reduction in the value for the applicable tax year, a reduction appearing in a final tax bill, a print-out of the property account page from the county Tax Collector or Revenue Department showing the refund amount, or a copy of the Recommended Decision of the Special Magistrate of the Value Adjustment Board for the applicable tax year as a result of a Hearing. This proof will accompany our invoice to the Client only upon request. However, Attorney is not responsible for any other notifications or verifications that may be sent to Client from time to time by VABs, Property Appraisers, Tax Collectors, or any other government departments or agencies.
4.1 Payment of fees is due within fifteen (15) days of the date of the Attorney's invoice or statement. Amounts unpaid after that date shall bear simple interest at 1.5% per month or the highest rate permitted by law, whichever is less, from the invoice date until paid. Client shall also pay Attorney's reasonable costs of collection actually incurred, including attorney's fees and court costs, whether or not suit is filed.
This form is copyrighted by Seth D. Lubin, P.A., 2026, and may not be reproduced, copied, or used for any other purpose other than its intended use with Seth D. Lubin, P.A.
5. Jurisdiction and venue for any proceedings on this contract shall be in Broward County, Florida.
6. In the event Attorney's fees remain unpaid, Client grants Attorney an equitable lien on the property that is the subject of this Agreement, and a charging lien on any tax refund, credit, or other proceeds resulting from this representation, as security for payment of Attorney's fees. CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT REGARDING LIEN: CLIENT UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS SECTION GIVES THE ATTORNEY A LIEN AGAINST THE CLIENT'S REAL PROPERTY, IN ADDITION TO ANY REFUND OR PROCEEDS, IF FEES ARE NOT PAID. THIS IS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION BETWEEN CLIENT AND ATTORNEY. CLIENT HAS BEEN ADVISED IN WRITING THAT CLIENT SHOULD CONSIDER CONSULTING, AND HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT, AN INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY OF CLIENT'S OWN CHOOSING BEFORE AGREEING TO THIS TERM, AND HAS BEEN GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, CLIENT GIVES INFORMED CONSENT TO THE LIEN AND TO THE ATTORNEY'S ROLE IN THIS TRANSACTION.
7. Client may terminate this engagement at any time. If Client terminates without cause, retains other representation, or abandons the appeal after Attorney has performed work, Client agrees to pay Attorney the reasonable value of services rendered, at $500 per hour, not to exceed the contingency fee that would have been earned, due if and when a reduction is obtained for the 2026 tax year. Client authorizes Attorney in advance to accept, compromise, or settle the Petition, including limited reductions, where Attorney reasonably believes the result is in Client's interest, and to withdraw the Petition if Attorney determines the property is fairly assessed. Attorney will provide notice of any withdrawal.
Client understands that a reduction of property value may result in the Client’s loss of potential Portability. Client acknowledges Attorney has advised that a reduction in assessed value may reduce or eliminate portability benefits, and Client directs Attorney to proceed notwithstanding this risk. See LubinLawFirm.com/portability for more information on this matter.
8. Client acknowledges that appropriate relief might not be secured at the administrative level and that judicial relief might be required or recommended. If, in Attorney's opinion, such judicial proceedings are warranted, Attorney shall so notify Client. This engagement is for the Administrative action only and does not include representation in Circuit Court or otherwise. If Client wishes to engage Attorney for judicial matters, a separate agreement must be signed. Additionally, although it occurs only in rare cases, Client acknowledges that the County Property Appraiser may appeal the reduction obtained by Attorney to the Circuit Court.
9. Under Florida Law, property owners who file a Value Adjustment Board (VAB) appeal must have paid at least 75% of the assessed Ad Valorem taxes (taxes based on the assessed value of the property) and all of the Non-Ad Valorem Assessments that are for services such as Solid Waste and Fire, by March 31, 2027. Property owners who fail to make this 75% payment will have their VAB petition denied. Since Attorney puts a great deal of work into each case, in the event Client fails to make the required payment after a VAB hearing has been held on the property, Client agrees to pay Attorney an amount equal to the amount of the fee that would have been due hereunder had the payment been made, or $1,000, whichever is greater.
10. The Firm may use software tools, including artificial-intelligence and automation tools, to assist with tasks such as property analysis, valuation research, document preparation, and client communications. All such tools are used under the supervision of a licensed attorney, who remains responsible for the work. The Client consents to the Firm's use of these tools, including the processing of information related to the Client's matter, and understands the Firm will take reasonable steps to protect confidentiality. The use of these tools does not change the Firm's fees, which remain as set out in this Agreement.
11. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
12. Payment Obligation Unconditional. Client's obligation to pay the contingency fee is due regardless of whether Savings are received by Client as a refund check, a credit to Client's escrow account, or a reduced tax bill, and regardless of whether any refund is routed to an escrow servicing company or other third party. Client shall pay Attorney from Client's own funds if Client does not receive the refund or credit directly.
13. Multiple Owners. If the property is owned by more than one person or entity, each signatory represents that they have authority to bind all owners, and all owners are jointly and severally liable for all fees and obligations under this Agreement.
14. Authorization to Act. Client authorizes Attorney to execute and file petitions (including Form DR-486) on Client's behalf, to receive confidential taxpayer information relating to the property, and to communicate and negotiate with the Property Appraiser, Value Adjustment Board, Tax Collector, and any other government agency concerning the property. Client consents to Attorney communicating with Client electronically, including by email and text message.
15. No Guarantee of Outcome. Attorney makes no guarantee, promise, or prediction regarding the outcome of any appeal. Whether a reduction is achieved depends on the evidence, the Property Appraiser, and the Value Adjustment Board. Client acknowledges that no reduction may be obtained; in that case, no contingency fee is owed, but the Administrative Fee remains earned and nonrefundable.
16. Client Cooperation. If Client fails to provide requested information or documents within the time stated in Section 2, Attorney may withdraw from the representation without refund of the Administrative Fee, and Client remains responsible for any fees earned prior to withdrawal.
17. File Retention. Attorney will retain Client's file for three (3) years following the conclusion of the 2026 tax year appeal, after which the file may be destroyed without further notice. Client may request a copy of the file in writing at any time before destruction.
You understand that by signing the signature box on the online Lubin Law Firm 2026 - Property Tax Appeal Intake Form, all terms and conditions apply to you and all principals, partners, corporations, employees, heirs, personal representatives, agents, assigns, and/or successors in interest. Client's signature applies to each property and folio listed on the Intake Form, and the Administrative Fee applies per folio. The terms and conditions contained herein, as well as those listed in the Privacy Policy (link at the bottom of the page), constitute the entire Agreement, which may not be modified except in writing and with full execution by Client and Attorney.
ATTORNEY:
SETH D. LUBIN, P.A.
By: /s/ Seth D. Lubin
Seth D. Lubin, Esq., for the Firm
Executed electronically pursuant to Fla. Stat. ch. 668
CLIENT: Executed by electronic signature captured on the Lubin Law Firm 2026 Property Tax Appeal Intake Form, which is incorporated into and forms part of this Agreement.
This form is copyrighted by Seth D. Lubin, P.A., 2026, and may not be reproduced, copied, or used for any other purpose other than its intended use with Seth D. Lubin, P.A.