Legal Question in Business Law in California

Protecting personal assets

If I have personal assets (home, investments, etc) in a trust, are they protected if my sole proprietor business is at risk of business liability/


Asked on 11/11/08, 7:41 pm

4 Answers from Attorneys

R.C. Lim The Law Offices of R.C. Lim

Re: Protecting personal assets

Yes, all of your business risks would be passed. You should look into creating a LLC to protect yourself. Next, insurance. Then, depending on your business, you should consider additional asset protection planning, such as an irrevocable spendthrift trust.

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Answered on 11/11/08, 7:49 pm
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Protecting personal assets

NO! A revocable trust is transparent to creditors; they can attack it just as easily as they can attack assets not held in trust.

An irrevocable trust presents more difficulties for creditors, but still can be attacked. One common method used to attack assets held in an irrevocable trust is to allege in a lawsuit for fraudulent transfer that the assets were transferred to the trust at below fair market value and the purpose was to "defraud, hinder or delay" a creditor or feared future creditor such as someone threatening to sue for money damages.

I do not advise setting up trusts or transferring houses to children, parents or in-laws as a means of protecting assets. Insurance and incorporation are better means. Also, recording a declaration of homestead is of some value.

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Answered on 11/11/08, 10:12 pm
OCEAN BEACH ASSOCIATES OCEAN BEACH ASSOCIATES

Re: Protecting personal assets

Not unless it is an unrevocable trust. Contact me directly.

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Answered on 12/16/08, 3:53 pm
Erik Nowacki Business Law Inc.

Re: Protecting personal assets

No, your personal assets would be at risk for any liability flowing from your sole proprietor business.

If you are concerned about business liability, you should consider forming an LLC or corporation. This is the first step to protect your assets.

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Answered on 11/12/08, 2:58 am


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