When Are Transfers Subject To Attack As A "Fraudulent Conveyance?"

Many people tell me they are planning transfers that they do not think will be challenged as a fraudulent conveyance because no creditor has yet to file a lawsuit. For fraudulent conveyance issues the important event is not the lawsuit or judgment, but it is the creation of a claim. Fraudulent conveyance statutes address creditors' "claims" not creditor lawsuits or creditor judgments. "Claim" is defined by the statutes. A claim means a right to payment, whether or not the right is reduced to judgment, is liquidated, fixed, contingent, disputed etc. A transfer of assets made even under the vague shadow of a potential claim is subject to attack as a fraudulent transfer under Florida Statute 726 even though substantial time passes before a lawsuit if filed or judgment awarded.

Thinking About Hiding Assets Overseas?

From time to time people ask me about using asset protection tools to hide assets from creditors or former spouses. Some people believe asset protection tools can be used to hide income from the IRS. My standard response is that asset protection is not asset hiding, and that current technology precludes secrets. To illustrate my point I invite those harboring images of asset secrecy to visit a relative new blog written to help creditors discover hidden assets here and overseas. The blog is called "The Asset Search Blog" edited by Fred Abrams, www.assetsearchblog.com.

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Avoiding Wage Garnishment In A Closely Held Small Business

Unmarried debtors who do not support minor children or a spouse are not exempt from wage garnishment. Where such debtor is involved in a closely held small business there may be planning opportunities to protect from garnishment periodic receipts from the business. Small business can pay some of its key personnel either as salaried employees or as independent contractors. The payment method and employment characterization of the key employee may have income tax consequences, and it may also affect the protection of compensation from judgment creditors.

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Fraudulent Conveyance Avoided In Conveyance To Non-Debtor Spouse

I have cordial professional relationships with a few creditor attorneys. Sometimes, a creditor attorney who is representing a debtor client invents interesting asset protection strategies. Mr. Larry Kosto of Orlando, Florida, is one Florida's best collection attorneys. Larry says that he represented a debtor who owned assets jointly with his spouse which assets, for one reason or another, could not be deemed protected tenants by entireties assets. He came up with an interesting plan to transfer the joint assets to the non-debtor spouse and avoid fraudulent conveyance.

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