You have questions.
We have answers.

The strategic legal process of structuring your wealth and property to safeguard them from potential future creditors, lawsuits, and financial liabilities. In a high-litigation environment like South Florida, it acts as a proactive legal fortress — keeping what you built legally out of reach from predatory claims.

If you own a business, invest in real estate, or work in a high-liability profession (medicine, construction), you are a prime target for lawsuits. Asset protection ensures a single dispute, accident, or aggressive creditor cannot wipe out your savings, home, or investments.

The golden rule is to plan before a threat arises — right now, while the legal waters are calm. Waiting until you are sued is too late; moving assets then can be penalized under Florida's "fraudulent transfer" laws.

Florida offers some of the strongest statutory protections in the U.S.:

• Leveraging the Florida Homestead Exemption for your primary residence.
• Tenancy by the Entireties (TBE) for married couples.
• LLCs and Family Limited Partnerships to isolate high-risk assets.
• Asset Protection Trusts (APTs) to separate ownership from liquid wealth.
• Protecting the cash value of life insurance and annuities.

Yes. Properly setting up an LLC or Corporation creates a "corporate veil" — if your business is sued, liability is restricted to the business, keeping your personal accounts, home, and private investments shielded.

Absolutely. Done proactively, it is a 100% legal, ethical, prudent strategy — the smart application of existing Florida and federal laws. It is not tax evasion or hiding assets.

Transferring assets to hide them during a lawsuit is a "fraudulent transfer" and can be undone by a judge. However, a skilled attorney can still legally maximize statutory exemptions (Homestead, retirement accounts) and structure a defense. Never move assets during a lawsuit without counsel.

Offshore Asset Protection Trusts place assets under a foreign jurisdiction whose laws don't recognize U.S. judgments. Highly effective for extreme high-net-worth liability, but complex. For most clients, domestic Florida-law strategies provide more than enough robust protection.

No. A properly structured plan lets you retain managerial control and access to your wealth while stripping the legal ownership that makes those assets vulnerable to creditors.

They work hand-in-hand. Asset protection shields your wealth while you are alive; estate planning ensures it transfers seamlessly to your heirs after you pass. TRU Legal integrates both — secure from lawsuits today and probate courts tomorrow.

Consider their experience in entity structuring, knowledge of Florida's statutory exemptions, and ability to tailor solutions. Look for an attorney like Alex Trujillo, who combines deep legal expertise with an M.B.A. — so your legal protections never hinder your business growth.

Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will, paying debts, and distributing assets. In Florida it can be expensive, public, and take 6–12 months or more. A Revocable Living Trust can help your family bypass Florida probate entirely.

It gives you total control over your legacy. Without it, Florida dictates who receives your assets, who raises your minor children, and who makes your medical decisions. Planning protects your family from disputes, costly probate, and unnecessary taxes.

Dying "intestate" means Florida law takes over. A judge decides distribution by a rigid statutory formula that may not match your wishes, and your family endures the stressful, public probate process during grief.

Now. Any adult over 18 should have basic incapacity documents (Power of Attorney and Healthcare Surrogate). It becomes critical the moment you buy real estate, marry, start a business, or have children.

A robust Florida plan typically includes:

• Last Will & Testament — asset division and guardians for minors.
• Revocable Living Trust — bypass probate, manage wealth privately.
• Durable Power of Attorney — handle finances if incapacitated.
• Health Care Surrogate — medical decisions on your behalf.
• Living Will — wishes on life-prolonging treatment.

Yes. Nursing-home costs can deplete savings rapidly. Through proactive Florida Medicaid Planning and specialized Irrevocable Trusts, we can legally shield assets while you still qualify for assistance to cover long-term care.

Florida has no state inheritance tax, but high-net-worth individuals must plan for Federal Estate Taxes. Proper planning also secures the "step-up in basis," potentially saving heirs hundreds of thousands in capital gains taxes.

Review it every 3 to 5 years — and update immediately after major life events: marriage, divorce, a new child, a significant financial change, or buying property in a new state.

Yes. DIY online forms often fail in Florida probate courts due to strict witness and notary rules. An attorney ensures your documents are legally bulletproof, tax-efficient, and aligned with Florida law.

Look for an attorney who listens, explains complex laws in plain English (or Spanish), and treats your family's future with respect. Alex Trujillo, Esq. provides personalized, holistic planning that considers both your real estate and your long-term legacy — a trusted advisor, not just a document drafter.