How to Protect Your Real Estate Assets

If you own vacation home property that you do not rent out on a regular basis, then a trust may be a better choice for you.

If you own real estate, chances are you have purchased insurance to protect your assets against damage or loss. But have you taken the necessary steps to protect your assets against lawsuits or probate?

If you own rental properties, there is likely a nagging fear in the back of your mind about being sued by one of your tenants. And if there isn’t, there probably should be. It’s a major risk.

And while it may be heartbreaking to think about, there is always a chance your death could trigger a family feud over your home, vacation home or other real estate investments.  

Two common estate planning tools for real estate asset protection include limited liability companies (LLCs) and trusts:

LLC. If you have income-producing property, then an LLC probably makes sense for you, since it protects your personal assets from lawsuits or claims that result from your ownership of the real estate. LLCs may also offer owners privacy since the property can be listed in a company name, not in your name directly. However, you must be sure you maintain the LLC properly so the planned for protections remain intact. It’s not too difficult though, especially with counsel.

Trusts. If you own vacation home property that you do not rent out on a regular basis, then a trust may be a better choice for you.  

A revocable trust is flexible and, if you choose a dynasty trust, can last for multiple generations. The major benefit of the revocable trust, besides control of what happens to the assets after the death of the grantors, is that it keeps your assets out of the hands of the Court after your death, and totally within the control of your family. 

You can also use a combination of LLCs and trusts to protect real estate assets if you have a combination of primary residence and rental properties. We can help you decide on the best course of action for your individual circumstances.

Call our office today to schedule a time for us to sit down and talk about a Family Wealth Planning Session, where we can identify the best strategies for you and your family to ensure your legacy of love and financial security.

This article is a service of 20West Legal, LLC, Personal Family Lawyer®. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, ™ during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.