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

Asset protection only works if it’s built by someone who understands both Florida’s specific statutes and how Miami-Dade courts actually treat these structures when they’re tested. That’s the work we do.

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

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 213 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Anthony Calore 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Julio Morales was excellent. Him and his team were swift and extremely helpful. 1 month probate with a very justified rate.
  
 
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   Rachel Cunningham 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Julio recently supported me through the probate process after the death of my parents. We had one account that was not included in their trust (work was done by another attorney at another office unrelated to Family Life Law). Julio stands out as a top notch attorney because of his incredible responsiveness and follow through. Chase Bank did not want to disburse funds, even with a judge's order signed, but Julio persisted and supported me, going well above and beyond the scope I expected. I have recommended Julio to several friends/family already and have told other attorneys I know how incredible he is! I plan to work with Julio to now create my own trust and go through the process! I highly recommend Julio.
  
 
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   Nayletay Perez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tuve una gran experiencia con este bufete de abogados, estoy muy contenta con su trabajo, el proceso fue rapido, agradecida con Elvis por su atencion, muy profesional, te explica todo muy bien aclarando todas las dudas, sinceramente los recomiendo mucho. Es un bufete muy profecional y todos son muy atentos . Gracias...
  
 
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   Abel Santiago Guerrero 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was a very trying event, life changing. My main concern was making sure my son was in safe place, healthy, and happy. The Family Law Firm's entire staff made sure that was always the case and they included this father's well-being also. Stressful times made as easy as possible. Somehow they found a way to make me look a that big picture and not just the immediate resolution. Although, those moments if immediate solution were taken care of also. The communication was exceptional, Mr. Brett listened, and when he needed to let me know to calm down and stop talking so much because it could be costly, he found humorous ways to let me know. We all know these matters are costly, but no money can replace keeping a family from resolving such issues than with civility and as amicable as possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the entire F&M "A Law Firm" staff. Be Blessed Always, Mr. Brett, Ms. Sarah, Ms. Capote, and Ms. Priscilla. Take good care.
  
 
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   FUJI 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Elvis Acosta was great, he helped us out with everything we needed in terms of our estate planning. He was very thorough and explained everything and was patient. He made great recommendations and we're very happy with our service and Martha Mendez Esq. All of the personnel were friendly!
  
 
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   Yonel Enriquez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The team and Feinstein & Mendez was spectacular to work with.  Brett took real care of me, was diligent, was transparent, and really made me feel comfortable in the process.  I appreciated his candor and most of all how he made sure I felt comfortable with the approach.  Sometimes its not what you say to people its how you make them feel, and Brett made me feel good and protected as he represented me.  Thank you again Brett for everything and if you need a team of Attorneys to help and take care of you, who will have your back, and who will make sure you are well represented, Give Feinstein & Mendez a call, you won't regret it.
  
 
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   Lydia Lopez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was very satisfied with the help provided by Julio Morales. I worked with him on a probate case and everything was done over the phone. The probate process was quick and efficiently completed.
  
 
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   Mario Gonzalez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had a great experience in my consultation with Martha Mendez.  She took her time and explained about lady bird deed.
  
 
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   Rosemary Cohn 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful experience setting up our estate plan! We couldn't be happier with the service we received at Feinstein & Mendez, P.A. Creating an estate plan can feel overwhelming, but Attorney Martha Méndez and her assistant Elvis Acosta made the entire process smooth and stress-free from day one. Ms. Méndez took the time to walk us through every single detail of our trust with so much patience and clarity. We never felt rushed, and she answered all of our questions thoroughly. Elvis was fantastic as well, super responsive, organized, and on top of every detail, making sure we received all of our digital and physical documents promptly. It is such a relief to know that our family’s future is properly protected. If you need estate planning services, we highly recommend this firm. They are professional, transparent, and a true pleasure to work with. — Mario & Rosemary Cohn Excelencia, claridad y profesionalismo absoluto Queremos expresar nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a todo el equipo de Feinstein & Mendez, P.A., y de manera muy especial a la Abogada Martha Méndez y a su asistente Elvis Acosta, por el extraordinario servicio brindado en la elaboración de nuestro plan patrimonial (Estate Planning). Desde nuestra primera consulta hasta la entrega final de los documentos originales y digitales, el proceso fue impecable. La abogada Méndez demostró un conocimiento técnico profundo, explicándonos cada detalle de nuestro Fideicomiso y los instrumentos legales con absoluta claridad y paciencia. Por su parte, Elvis Acosta se destacó por su eficiencia, pronta comunicación y atención al detalle en cada paso del trámite. Nos sentimos completamente tranquilos y respaldados al saber que nuestro patrimonio y el futuro de nuestra familia están protegidos por verdaderos profesionales. Recomendamos a Feinstein & Mendez, P.A. sin reserva alguna a cualquiera que busque un servicio legal transparente, riguroso y de primer nivel. — Mario y Rosemary Cohn

Frequently Asked Questions About Asset Protection in Florida

Is it too late to protect my assets if a lawsuit is already looming?

It depends on the specifics. Once a creditor claim is active or reasonably foreseeable, transferring assets specifically to avoid that creditor can be unwound as a fraudulent transfer. That said, some protective strategies remain legitimately available even after a threat appears, and structures already in place continue to protect you. Contact us right away so we can assess what’s still available.

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?

By building it before a challenge exists, with documentation that supports a legitimate purpose, consistent with the standard under Fla. Stat. § 726.105. Courts weigh intent, timing, and fair value — we structure every plan with those factors in mind from the outset.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation

Your asset protection plan should reflect your specific assets, risk exposure, and timeline. Contact Family Life Law to schedule a confidential consultation with a Coral Gables asset protection attorney.

Martha Mendez

Estate Planning Attorney at Family Life Law

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.