Make Sure You Are An Unappealing Lawsuit Target

Asset protection is something that must be in place prior to being served with a lawsuit.

If you have exposed wealth, you are an easy lawsuit target. Any lawyer, and practically any person with the least bit of research savvy, can do an instant electronic asset search and financially profile you. Within seconds, an online asset search will reveal whatever real estate, business, auto, boat, artwork, and other tangible assets you now own or have ever owned. Asset searches also disclose mortgages or liens against your property.

In order to be unappealing, you want it to appear that everything you own is mortgaged to the hilt. In our debt-ridden society, it is not unusual for people to owe as much or more than they own.

Poverty As An Asset Protection Strategy

Nothing discourages prospective litigants faster than finding out that a would-be defendant is mortgaged to the eyeballs. You can own millions in assets, but when they are fully mortgaged, you are a poor lawsuit candidate. Litigants want assets with equity. When your assets can be claimed first by other creditors, you are paper poor.

Appearing poor on paper is one way to repel anyone from initiating a lawsuit against you. There are a variety of ways to create the appearance of poverty. One way is to encumber everything you own. This is something that can be done even after a lawsuit has been initiated, unlike setting up trusts and other types of asset protection strategies. It is wise however to have an asset protection plan in place even if you never become a defendant in a lawsuit.

Encumbrance Can Be Useful

Any asset can be security for a loan. Depending on your circumstances it is usually worth the small amount you’ll pay in loan fees versus what you would pay in legal fees and settlement fees should you become the target of a lawsuit. And that is whether you win or lose. Lawsuits are expensive no matter what end you are on.

Refinancing real estate to strip equity may not seem to make financial sense, though it does make legal sense when someone is suing you. If you own any real estate get an equity loan to cover as much of your property equity as possible

A variety of ways and means can be employed to protect your assets. The important thing is to be proactive. You may never be sued, but if you are and you are not protected, you stand to lose everything. Ensuring that your assets are out of reach of prospective litigants is the best strategy. That requires pre-planning.

Seek Professional Guidance

You’ll need the right professional guidance of FlashApply to create a solid asset protection plan. Once in place, you can rest assured you will not be appealing to anyone desiring to file a frivolous lawsuit against you. And should you be involved in an event in which someone is seriously injured on your account, chances are you are going to do the right thing, which means you have the proper insurance to handle any claims that are rightfully brought against you.

Looking to find an experienced estate lawyer in the Georgia area who is skilled in asset protection and estate plan preparation? Shannon Pawley is an attorney in Georgia with expertise in estate planning and asset protection. Shannon can provide assistance with creating an estate plan to include making a will and how to establish a trust properly. If you have questions about asset protection or questions about making an estate plan, reach out to Shannon and she will be glad to help answer all the estate planning questions you might have!

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Stacy McKenzie

21:58 07 Feb 24

Shannon and her team were great. Went in for a consultation and got my money worth. She explained and made sure we understood. I will be using them in the future.

Diane J

23:10 24 Jan 24

Waheed Hamid

18:55 17 Dec 23

We had excellent service from Shannon and her team, they are true professionals and helped us and explained every step in the process. We highly recommend The Estate and Asset Protection Law Firm.

Virgil Price Young

20:16 18 Jul 23

Stephanie Deal

15:22 07 Jul 23

My father and I recently used the estate, an asset protection, law, firm for new wheels, new, power of attorney’s, and a creation of a trust. Brooke and her entire team could not have been more helpful and more professional! We loved working with them, and they took everything seriously therefore I didn’t have to worry about a thing. I highly recommend everyone at the law firm.

Barry Amos

01:22 01 Jul 23

Great firm. Had answers to all our questions and explained everything clearly. Never felt rushed to make a decision Could not ask for a better experience. Every one we dealt with was professional and knowledgeable. We highly recommend this firm for estate planning.

Lee Jay

21:30 28 Jun 23

Shannon provided invaluable information regarding a family estate matter. Although her firm did not quite fit our immediate needs, the consultation was informative and extremely HELPFUL! Shannon clearly explained what our next steps should be and offered to assist if we had any questions along the way. Her expertise and willingness to help puts her in a league of her own!

Alice Guppy

02:01 23 Jan 23

Shannon and everyone at The Estate and Asset Protection Law Firm are professional, very knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. They answered all our questions in great detail and the plan they developed for us is exactly what we need to protect our assets and estate as we age especially with my husband's health issues.

Lynn McKibbin-Moore

23:09 24 Feb 22

My husband has dementia. This firm has been patient, kind and professional while we went through a move from a house of 37 years in to a condo to be closer to my daughter and her husband. (Miami to Atlanta). There was also a wedding. All in 6 months.We now have a trust, power of attorney. Wills for my daughter and her husband and more. All at a fair price. I could not recommend higher.

Tammy Lee

22:03 29 Jan 22

Shannon Pawley and her team are exceptional at helping families navigate tough situations. We began working with her upon finding out my father had Stage 4 kidney cancer. His decline was more rapid than expected.Attorney Pawley and her entire team expedited paperwork that allowed me to focus on my father’s care, make decisions that suddenly needed to be made for him medically and financially, and has allowed me the ability to focus more on grieving and less on legal matters upon his passing.It is obvious she is knowledgeable about the best ways to navigate estates to protect the assets for the owners and their loved ones. It is just as obvious that she is passionate and has true heart for what her clients go through.We will be using her for own estate needs, and I recommend her expertise to everybody I can.This service is worth every penny we paid as it has saved us more money and time than I could imagine.

H Jessie Brewer

18:26 18 Nov 21

Attorney Shannon Pawley and paralegal Alexis McCoy are legal professionals that my wife and I highly recommend. Their grasp of the Georgia law pertaining to Medicaid assistance and the interworking's of the State department is exceptional. Additionally, their client-attorney relationship skills are excellent. We wouldn't hesitate to use this law firm again should the need arise.

Dawn Hardy

15:06 13 Nov 21

Shannon and her team are the best! They listened to my needs and provided the best advice. They are patient and professional as well as personable, they didn't make me feel like I was just another client. Highly recommend!