Asset protection is a financial strategy intended to limit creditors’ access to certain valuable assets while operating within the bounds of debtor-creditor law.
Asset protection planning involves proactive legal action to protect your personal and business assets from future creditors, divorce, lawsuits, or judgments.
Asset protection attorneys leverage legal and lawful techniques that can deter a lawsuit and help prevent the seizure of your assets in the event of a judgment. After establishing a proper plan, a legal opponent or creditor will recognize that you are no easy target. Little to no assets are within reach of a judgment, putting the debtor in a powerful position. This can deter a lawsuit, or if a lawsuit occurs or litigation, provide substantial negotiation leverage.
One of the first benefits of implementing simple legal vehicles to protect assets is privacy of ownership. You can own real property and other forms of wealth privately, which reduces your “visible” net worth and reduces the risk of frivolous lawsuits or a predatory legal attack.
You try to do the right thing, follow the rules, and live a respectable life. Unfortunately, accidents and mistakes happen, and our society is increasingly litigious. There are over 19 million new lawsuits in the U.S. every year. Even when accidents occur, there is often a feeling somebody must shoulder the blame and responsibility, and that someone often is the individual with significant assets.
Just like that, you may find yourself on the defensive end of a lawsuit. While many people associate “frivolous lawsuits” with personal injury claims, most forget that legal actions like a divorce or a business-related claim are far more likely to impact their lives and put their assets at risk. And many individuals with significant assets forget that the acts of family members or those who could be perceived as employees or agents may also expose them to personal liability.
When the IRS, a creditor, or a plaintiff’s attorney wants to find money, they can and will track down every possible connection which leads to you. Your home, your car, and your retirement accounts all might seem mundane, but they have significant value. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the value of their assets until another person or entity threatens to take those assets away.
At the core of any asset protection plan is a professional and legal examination. We start by taking one’s entire financial picture into perspective – income, debts, assets, risks, insurance, personal or family goals, etc. The legal and financial vehicles used range from insurance policies, state homestead protection laws, business vehicles, and estate planning instruments. More involved cases often include multiple legal jurisdictions in foreign countries where the laws are more favorable to the defendant or debtor.
Counsel from an experienced legal advisor is critical when protecting your assets because they have the knowledge and the ability to create legal structures. We work with you to place your finances, real property, and other assets into legal entities distinct from you. Common legal strategies for protecting assets include:
If you do not have a comprehensive plan that addresses your liability exposure, then your assets can and will be subject to the grip of future creditors. Altman & Associates can help you create a structure that provides insulation between you and your assets while still allowing for the lifestyle you have worked hard to attain.
It is sad but true, in today’s litigious society, several people may want to take hard-earned assets away from you and your children.
This is especially true if you be a public persona, landlord, business owners, or work in a profession statistically subject to many lawsuits, like a physician or attorney.
Besides protecting assets against potential litigation, judgments, and liens, asset planning can also protect you and your loved ones from fraud and financial abuse.
Protect your assets. You can do it, and the Maryland asset protection attorneys at Altman & Associates will show you how. We have convenient office locations in Columbia, Rockville, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. Contact us by phone at (301) 468-3220 or online to schedule a consultation today.