One of many important asset protection strategies is being aware of the changing laws that affect you. You can do that by having an asset protection attorney on your team of trusted advisors (hint hint). You can also read the local paper to see what crazy new laws and regulations are being passed. [Read more…] about Asset Protection Strategies: Be aware of silly liability laws
Asset Protection Attorney Definitions: Hot vs. Cool Assets
If you think back to the 80s, you might remember the McDonald’s McDLT (check out the commercial below if you don’t remember). McDonald’s was selling a burger with packaging that kept the hot side hot, and the cool side cool. Although the McDLT didn’t last, the hot vs. cool asset strategy is used in smart asset protection and estate planning protection. [Read more…] about Asset Protection Attorney Definitions: Hot vs. Cool Assets
A problem with DIY legal planning
This is not our first rant about online DIY legal planning. Here are some good reasons why generic legal documents are no good. This post, specifically, is about generic operating agreements for your business. If you own an LLC, you should have an operating agreement for your company.
Legacy Planning: Private Foundation vs. Public Charity
We hear the term “non-profit” bandied about a lot in the news and in the community. I believe that most people have a very specific thing in mind when they hear non-profit, but it can actually be used to refer to a few different types of organizations.
Generally, when people say and hear non-profit, they mean a public charity. They think of something like Charity: Water, or more local to Seattle, Compass Housing Alliance.
There are a few different types of tax-exempt statuses with the IRS. [Read more…] about Legacy Planning: Private Foundation vs. Public Charity
How to protect your home equity
As an asset protection attorney I get a lot of questions about how to protect home equity. For a lot of people that is one of their most valuable assets. And its no surprise that home owners are building more equity and are concerned about keeping it safe and sound. Reading some recent news headlines you’ll see home prices are rising faster in Washington than any other state and Seattle home prices continue to rocket up and break record prices. [Read more…] about How to protect your home equity
Asset Protection Attorney Definitions: Domestic Asset Protection Trust
A Domestic Asset Protection Trust (DAPT) provides one of the highest levels of asset protection planning without going “offshore” (planning in a foreign country). The DAPT is an irrevocable trust with spendthrift provisions. In regular English, this is a legal fiction (the trust) allowing a person to shield their assets from lawsuits and creditors. Unlike most irrevocable trusts, you are not completely giving up the use or benefit of the assets in the trust. [Read more…] about Asset Protection Attorney Definitions: Domestic Asset Protection Trust
