The Blog
Asset protection questions, answered.
Plain-language answers to the questions people actually search — trusts, lawsuits, offshore planning, and protecting what you own. For the firm’s in-depth guides and the Cook Islands Trust library, see the articles library.
We Filed a Bar Complaint Over the “45 FAPT Cases” List
Blake Harris Law filed a complaint with the State Bar of Nevada over published descriptions of offshore trust case law. What it alleges, and the record behind it.
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What Assets Can Be Taken in a Lawsuit? (And What's Safe)
A winning creditor can take any non-exempt asset: accounts, investments, non-homestead real estate, business interests. What is exempt varies by state.
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Can You Set Up a Trust Without an Attorney?
Yes - every state lets you create your own trust. Whether you should depends on the trust type, your assets, and funding, which is where most DIY trusts fail.
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Retirement Income and Protection Plan: How to Build One
A retirement income and protection plan pairs saving with creditor protection - which accounts are shielded by law, where the gaps are, and how to close them.
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How to Open a Swiss Bank Account as a U.S. Citizen (5 Steps)
Yes, U.S. citizens can open Swiss bank accounts - often remotely. The five-step process, required documents, deposit minimums, and FBAR/FATCA reporting rules.
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What Happens If a Defendant Does Not Pay a Judgment?
An unpaid judgment does not fade - creditors can garnish wages, levy accounts, and lien property. How collection works, and why protected defendants settle low.
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The Most Ridiculous Lawsuits in America (and What They Teach)
The hot-coffee case, the $54 million pants, the 11-inch footlong - what America's most ridiculous lawsuits really teach about defending what you own.
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Can I Pay Bills With Money in a Trust? What You Need to Know
Yes - trust money can pay bills, but how depends on the trust type and your role. Why settlors of asset protection trusts should never pay bills directly.
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Attorney-Client Privilege vs. Confidentiality in Asset Protection
Confidentiality is a promise - privilege is a legal wall courts enforce. Who builds your asset protection plan decides what a creditor can discover later.
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Irrevocable Trusts in a Divorce Settlement: How Courts Treat Them
An irrevocable trust usually survives a divorce settlement intact - but courts can count it, offset it, or reach it. What decides which, and what to disclose.
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How Often Can I Pull Assets Out of My Trust?
Revocable trust - as often as you like. Irrevocable trust - you receive distributions on the trust's schedule, not yours. How withdrawal frequency works.
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Asset Protection Trust Cost: Full Pricing Breakdown
Asset protection trust costs run from about $5,000 for a domestic trust to $25,000 for a Cook Islands Trust. Here's what each price actually buys.
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Can an Inheritance Be Taken in a Divorce?
In most states an inheritance is separate property a divorce court will not divide - until you commingle it. How transmutation works and how trusts prevent it.
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Prenup vs. Trust: Which Is Right for Your Asset Protection?
A prenup is a contract both spouses must sign - and can later challenge. A trust works without your partner's agreement and blocks creditors too. How to choose.
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How to Set Up an Irrevocable Trust: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to set up an irrevocable trust in five steps - goals, structure, trustee, drafting, and funding - plus when an offshore trust beats a domestic one.
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Who Owns the Property in an Irrevocable Trust?
The trustee holds legal title, beneficiaries hold the beneficial interest, and the grantor owns nothing - which is exactly why the assets are protected.
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Best Asset Protection States for Trusts & LLCs (Ranked)
Compare the best states for asset protection trusts and LLCs. Nevada, South Dakota, Delaware, and Wyoming ranked by statute strength and court track record.
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What Is a Bulletproof Trust? (And Does One Exist?)
No trust is literally bulletproof - but some come far closer than others. What the term really means, and which structures hold up when tested in court.
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Using a Trust to Protect Assets in a Divorce: What Works
A trust can protect assets in a divorce - if it holds separate property and was funded before trouble. Which trust types work, and where courts push back.
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The Best Asset Protection Attorney: How to Choose
There is no single best asset protection attorney - but there are objective markers that separate real counsel from marketing companies. What to look for.
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Can You Add Assets to an Irrevocable Trust After It's Created?
Yes, in most cases. Irrevocable means the terms are locked, not the funding. How additional contributions work - and why each transfer has its own clock.
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Can the IRS Seize an Irrevocable Trust? An Honest Answer
Sometimes, yes. The IRS is not an ordinary creditor - federal tax liens and fraudulent-transfer rules reach many trusts. When trust assets are at risk.
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Do Irrevocable Trusts File Tax Returns? Grantor vs. Non-Grantor
It depends on the trust type. Grantor trusts report income on the settlor's 1040; non-grantor trusts file Form 1041. How to tell which one you have.
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How to Protect Your Money During Divorce: An Honest Guide
Most divorce asset protection happens before the divorce - not during it. What courts unwind, what disclosure requires, and the planning that actually works.
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