Saturday, March 23, 2013

What Is Asset Protection And How Can One Utilize It

By Ann Jordan


When people sue one another they are usually looking to gain some kind of monetary award for an injustice a litigant has felt has been done to them. The lawsuit could be the result of an accident where a person gets injured on the defendant's property. A litigant will try to win a judgement that can be used to capture a portion of a person's savings or wealth. Many attorneys recommend establishing various legal measures to protect what they have earned and acquired through their lifetime so a person suing them cannot take everything they own. These measures might be effective at creating barriers between the financial resources of a defendant and a person trying to take them. A person who has something to lose might want to learn what is asset protection and how it can help protect the property one owns.

Almost all families can benefit from enacting certain strategies to stop others from taking the money in their savings account or attaching a judgement to their properties. One of the most common methods to reduce liability is the use of automobile insurance. This provides a specified amount of coverage in case one is involved in a collision and they are the ones at fault for the accident. A certain amount of money is made available to pay off claims and stop a lawsuit from even starting.

Certain groups of people like business owners can also find it advantageous to set up systems to protect their assets. These groups can be susceptible to people suing them for any number of reasons. Sometimes it can be an internal matter that has caused a problem to appear among their employees. Situations like sexual harassment complaints are known to turn into lawsuits where one seeks monetary damages.

Figuring out how can limit their personal liability in many situations might require the help of others. A specialist can advise a person on the best actions to take. They should have the experience to know what is available to their client and be able to specifically teach the benefits of each decision.

The commercial real estate one owns can be guarded by by forming a limited liability corporation, often referred to as an LLC. What this accomplishes is the separation of ownership and responsibility. A person can still control the property, but any lawsuits would go after the assets of the corporation.

A business person also must be concerned with consumers filing lawsuits against them. This can happen when a product does not perform as expected and causes some type of injury. An owner who is operating as a sole proprietor faces paying for the damage out of pocket, but one who has incorporated the business may avoid paying the costs themselves for any damages.

Personal assets can also be protected when they are put into a trust. The trust is usually safe from creditors looking for money. The person who sets up the trust can still be named the beneficiary and receive payouts.

Protecting the financial welfare of home and family is important to many people. They will seek out ways to keep their valuables from being taken when someone wins a lawsuit and obtains a judgement to seize any assets of the person who lost the court case. This is one reason why someone may want to know what is asset protection and how can they take advantage of it.




About the Author:



No comments: