Asset Protection Attorney in Coral Gables, FL
Florida law gives you real tools to protect what you've built. Family Life Law puts them in place correctly, before you need them.
A Well-Built Plan Can Protect Your Assets From a Lawsuit or Creditor Claim
A lawsuit, a business dispute, a bad partnership, or even someone else’s car accident claim can put your personal wealth on the line — your home, your savings, your investment properties, what you’ve built for your family. Most people don’t think about protecting those assets until something is already happening, and by then, the options are narrower and the outcomes less certain.
Florida actually gives you strong tools to prevent that: an uncapped homestead exemption, liability-limiting business entities, and irrevocable trusts. The catch is timing. Under Fla. Stat. § 726.105, a court can reverse a transfer made to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor, or one made without fair value in exchange while your remaining assets are too thin to cover what you owe. A plan built before any claim exists sidesteps that risk entirely — it’s simply how you’ve structured your affairs.
Family Life Law helps Miami-Dade individuals and business owners put these protections in place while there’s still nothing to protect against yet.
Why Clients Trust Family Life Law With Their Asset Protection Plan
We have more than 35 years of experience in Miami-Dade County.
Our attorneys are based in Coral Gables and have handled homestead, entity, and trust matters throughout Miami-Dade County — we know the local property appraiser's office, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and the way these cases play out here specifically.
We build for scrutiny, not just for signing.
Courts look at intent, timing, and documented purpose when an asset protection structure is challenged. We structure and document every plan with those factors in mind from day one, so it's built to hold up — not just built to look complete.
We treat your plan as part of your whole picture, not an isolated document.
Because our firm also handles estate planning, wills, and trusts, your asset protection strategy is built to work with your estate plan — not as a separate track your family has to reconcile later.
You work directly with the attorney handling your case.
We keep our caseloads manageable so you get direct attention from the person actually working on your plan.
How We Structure Your Asset Protection Plan
Most effective plans combine two or three of these tools, layered around your specific assets and risk exposure.
Your Home’s Protection Can Fail If It’s Not Set Up Right
Under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution, a primary residence is exempt from forced sale by most creditors, extending to a surviving spouse or heirs. The exemption applies automatically once established — but confirming your property qualifies, and structuring ownership to preserve it, is where plans succeed or fail. We handle that review as part of every plan.
An LLC Can Protect Your Personal Assets From Your Business
A properly formed and maintained LLC limits what a creditor can reach from your business interests. The protection depends on how the entity is formed, capitalized, and run day to day — we set these up so they hold up as a genuine separate entity, not just paperwork.
A Trust Can Move Your Savings Out of a Creditor’s Reach
An irrevocable trust removes assets from your taxable and attachable estate, but it also means giving up direct control of those assets. We walk through exactly what that tradeoff means for you before anything is signed, so you know what you’re agreeing to.
What Working With Us Looks Like
Whether it’s an estate planning, probate, or family law issue, our team of attorneys is here to bring you the best outcome.
Step 1: Confidential Case Review
We start with your full financial picture — assets, risk exposure, and timeline — before recommending anything.
Step 2: Strategy Design.
We identify the right combination of protections for your situation and explain how each piece works, so you understand exactly what we're building and why.
Step 3: Implementation
We draft, file, and execute your documents and track statutory deadlines — including the March 1 homestead exemption filing deadline under Fla. Stat. § 196.011 — so nothing lapses.
Step 4: Ongoing Review
Your assets and risk profile change over time. We stay engaged after implementation rather than closing the file.
What our customers say
Frequently Asked Questions About Asset Protection in Florida
Is it too late to protect my assets if a lawsuit is already looming?
How much does asset protection planning cost?
Cost depends on the complexity of your holdings — a plan for a single residence and a couple of investment accounts looks different from a multi-entity strategy for a business owner. We discuss fees directly during your consultation.
I only have a primary residence and retirement accounts. Do I still need a plan?
Often, yes. Florida’s homestead exemption is strong but conditional, and retirement accounts carry their own protection rules depending on account type. A brief review confirms what’s already working in your favor and flags any gaps.
Will I lose control of my assets if they go into a trust or other structure?
Depends on the structure. A revocable trust keeps you in full control but offers limited protection. An irrevocable trust offers stronger protection but means giving up direct control. An LLC can preserve day-to-day management while still limiting what creditors can reach. We walk through what each option means for you before anything is implemented.
How do you make sure my plan holds up if it's ever challenged?
Schedule a Confidential Consultation
Martha Mendez
Martha Mendez, Esq. is a highly dedicated attorney with seven years of experience specializing in elder and estate planning, real estate, and family law. Her unique professional journey—rising from a legal secretary and paralegal to an attorney—reflects a deep commitment to the field, culminating in a Juris Doctor earned cum laude from St. Thomas University. A member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Martha is passionate about protecting her clients' assets and navigating complex life transitions with expertise. When she isn't advocating for her clients, the Florida International University alumna enjoys boating, kayaking, and traveling with her husband and three children.