Introduction A living trust (also called an "intervivos trust") is a specific kind of land trust designed to hold property (primarily real estate) during the life of the trustor in order to avoid pro

This is a summary of the how the Texas Property Code, the Texas Business Organizations Code, and the Texas Constitution make it possible for individuals and business to shield income and assets (parti

A question often asked when incorporating is, “where do I incorporate?” There are many promoters of various jurisdictions, such as Delaware and Nevada and even offshore. Nevada and Delawa

Trusts have been used for hundreds of years for tax savings and estate planning, but few people realize the enormous potential for using trusts for privacy. In this information age where records of yo

Over 80 million lawsuits are filed every year in the United States. If you are in business, you should be thinking about the risks involved. The following are some of the most common pitfalls that lea

When I present seminars on the topic of "Asset Protection," a common question I hear is "now that I am incorporated, should I cancel my insurance?" To the other extreme, a common remark made by ignora

As of April 1, 1997, all fifty states have adopted the Limited Liability Company or "LLC." The LLC is relatively new to the U.S., and most states have adopted LLC laws only within the past few years.

The pros and cons of forming limited liability entities such as Limited Partnerships, Family Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies is a much discussed topic these days. It is this latte

Protecting your assets should be a critical part of your investment program. Years ago, we had several reasons not to worry too much about it. Here were some of my excuses: 1.) The old “can&rsq

If you have been reading my articles, you are probably familiar with the concept of creating and using land trusts for privacy and protection of your real estate. However, what about your ownership of

I see it several times per day, everyday: An LLC disaster waiting to happen! No matter where I travel or with whom I speak, it’s clear that small to mid-sized business owners are not getting pro

I've been asked if you give someone a life estate, do they have the right to do anything they wish with the property, such as move out and rent it for income? What are an owners rights to the property

POINT # 1: Many investors believe that they can create a limited liability company (LLC) or file a corporate charter with the state and always have liability protection. This is simply not true. The t

First, let me state that I'm not an attorney and the rest of this article is just based on my experiences so I'd advise you to contact John Hyre at www.realestatetaxlaw.com to get some solid, specific

There are over 80 million lawsuits filed every year in the United States. Landlords and real estate investors are especially susceptible to liability. Are you a target? Are your assets easy to locate?

A business entity can provide personal liability protection for its owners. The problem is that many people start business without proper instruction on how to run and manage agreements between partie

I always say that when choosing a business entity, you must evaluate the tax advantages and disadvantages BUT ALSO the level of liability protection. LET’S EXAMINE A COMMON SITUATION: Many atto

One of the most common questions that real estate investors ask is: Which entity should I use? The correct answer usually depends on a large number of details…the exact nature and size of the b

A limited partnership is a partnership that has at least one limited partner and one general partner. Most states require the filing of a certificate with the state in order to be recognized as a limi

This article is not intended to alarm or frighten you, but to emphasize the importance of having a "system for doing business and making investments." For those of us who invest, have employees, or d