Asset Protection Planning

Every parent wants to make sure their children are provided for in the event something happens to them while the children are still minors. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives often want to leave some of their assets to young children, too. But good intentions and poor planning often have unintended results. For example, many parents think if they name a guardian for their minor children in their wills and something happens to them, the named person will automatically be able to use the inheritance to take care of the children. But that’s not what happens. When the will is probated, the court will appoint a guardian to raise the child; usually this is the person named by the parents. But the court, not the guardian, will control the inheritance until the child reaches...

I frequently get asked about asset protection; specifically about keeping certain types of personal property. About three times a week, the questioning commences with discussions about ATVs, boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles.         Asset protection should start before you have financial difficulties; but even if you are in the midst of challenges, knowing your rights and limitations is worthy of a visit with an attorney.   Nevada arguably has the most favorable list of assets excluded from the reach of creditors. This is in addition to Nevada's other benefits, like the Wealth Preservation Trust for higher wealth clients.  These protections can be found in part in NRS 21.090. Some of the most commonly applicable exemptions from the cla...

“Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen people, whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue.”  - Thomas Jefferson The farmer as virtuous is well-established in our national conscious and reverence for the family farm sets planning for it apart from other types of family owned businesses. Even children who do not plan to actively participate in farming have a deep emotional attachment to the farm. According to the USDA, approximately 96 percent of the 2.2 million farms are classified as “family farms.” The average age of a farm operator is 57 and the fastest growing segment is tho...

Many business owners devote much time and energy “working in” their business to improve business operations and profitability; however, they often neglect to “work on” their business by not addressing certain asset protection issues. Business owners, particularly those owning their business in corporate form, should consider the following: 1) how to own C corporation or S corporation stock to minimize exposure to creditors, an “outside” asset protection issue; and, 2) whether to implement several basic business agreements designed to protect and even enhance business value from the “inside” of the corporation. Stock...