Asset Protection Strategies/Alternatives

There are many asset protection alternatives.  These include offshore trusts, domestic asset protection trusts (called Ohio Legacy Trusts in Ohio), irrevocable life insurance trusts and limited liability companies.  But relatively simple exemption planning should always be the initial focus.  Exempt assets (those which applicable laws already make it difficult or impossible for creditors to reach)

Earlier this year Ohio joined a number of other states that allow creation of a domestic asset protection trust.  In Ohio, it is called an Ohio Legacy Trust.

Ohio law (just like the law of every other state) can change at any time.  We currently anticipate no significant change in the new Ohio domestic asset

Asset protection planning (and estate planning) frequently involves the use of one or more trusts. Possibilities include an offshore trust, Domestic Asset Protection Trust, irrevocable life insurance trust and various other kinds of trusts. 

Most of these trusts are designed to last for many years. It is therefore important to give the trustee the flexibility to adjust

Here are some of the people who should at least consider setting up an Ohio Legacy Trust:

  • Business owners
  • CEOs and Directors
  • Physicians
  • Accountants
  • Attorneys
  • People considering marriage
  • Others who are willing to part with total control of a portion of their assets

The following chart (prepared by my partner, Paul Fidler) provides some general

The link below provides some general information about Ohio legacy trusts. The material is from a presentation given by my firm on March 26, 2013 (the day before the Ohio Legacy Trust Statute took effect). 

www.ssrl.com/attachments/download/106/Ohio%20Asset%20Management%20Modernization%20Act.pdf

This new kind of trust is not for everyone. But for some Ohio residents, it could be a valuable way to