Individual
One person — property, a profession with real liability risk, or a growing business.
Typically Includes
- Asset protection trust
- Revocable living trust
- Will, POA & healthcare directive
- Beneficiary alignment on every account
Asset Protection Trust AttorneyShield What You've Built From Future Lawsuits and Creditors.
An asset protection trust holds your property so future creditors and legal claims generally can't reach it — but only if it's set up correctly, and early enough.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri asset protection attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is structured around your real risk and your real finances, not a generic form.
Free 30-minute consultationNo obligation
30 Years
Practicing law
11 Years
In wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®
Certified Financial Planner
AEP®
Accredited Estate Planner
What it does
What an Asset Protection Trust Actually Does
An asset protection trust moves your property out of your direct ownership and into an irrevocable trust — managed by an independent trustee — protecting your family's wealth from future creditors.
Property placed in the trust is generally out of reach of litigation, lawsuits, and creditor claims filed after it's properly funded.
Someone other than you manages the trust day-to-day, which is part of what makes the protection hold up in court.
Depending on how it's structured, you can still benefit from the trust's assets, even though you no longer own them outright.
Complements an LLC or corporation by shielding your personal assets too, not just your business ones.
Works alongside your will and other trusts, so nothing is left exposed or duplicated.
What's left in the trust can be directed to your beneficiaries after your death, similar to other trusts.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri asset protection attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is structured around your real risk and your real finances, not a generic form.
What it doesn't do
What an Asset Protection Trust Doesn't Do
Said plainly, so you know what else to plan for.
Only future creditors and lawsuits are covered. A court can unwind a transfer made to dodge a claim you already knew about.
It's irrevocable — unlike a living trust, you generally can't undo it once it's funded.
Learn about Living Trusts →It limits what a judgment can reach — it doesn't stop you from being sued in the first place. Liability insurance still matters.
Not sure how this applies to your situation?
Call 636-214-0546What we watch for
Common Mistakes We Watch For
Most asset protection trusts fail to hold up for reasons that have nothing to do with how they were written. Here's what we check for, every time.
The single most common mistake. We won't, and legally can't, help you shield assets from a claim that already exists or is reasonably foreseeable — we'll tell you honestly if timing has already closed that door.
If you keep too much day-to-day control over the trust, courts can treat the assets as still yours. We structure the trustee relationship so the protection actually holds.
An LLC without a matching personal asset protection plan leaves your personal wealth exposed even if your business is protected. We check both.
Pricing
How Your Asset Protection Trust Is Priced
An asset protection trust is rarely priced on its own. Most plans are a flat fee, set before you commit to anything, that covers it alongside whatever else you need. What changes the number is complexity — whether you're planning alone, as a couple, or across multiple assets and entities.
Couple
Two people — one coordinated plan instead of two that may conflict.
Typically Includes
- Asset protection trusts, coordinated
- Joint or mirror living trusts
- Wills for each spouse, coordinated
- A clear roadmap for the first death
Complex or High Net Worth
Multiple assets, entities, or a business — coordinated with your CPA and other advisors.
Typically Includes
- Asset protection trust, integrated with your business
- Irrevocable & tax-minimizing trusts
- Business succession & family entities
- Coordinated with your CPA & advisors
Get an exact number for your situation — the first call is free.
Call 636-214-0546The process
How Your Asset Protection Trust Gets Built
Your profession, your business, and what's actually at risk — in one real meeting.
1
We map your exposure
Your profession, your business, and what's actually at risk — in one real meeting.
2
We draft it
Structured with an independent trustee, so the protection holds up if it's ever tested.
3
We fund it
Assets retitled into the trust, well before any claim exists.
4
We stay
Reviewed every year, so new assets are protected as your risk changes.
Your attorney
Why Families Trust Deborah With This
Deborah Smiley
JD · CFP® · AEP®Deborah has practiced law in Missouri for 30 years. For 11 of those years, she also worked in wealth management — a combination that matters here too, since protecting assets from creditors means understanding your actual financial exposure, not just drafting a document.
She's a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and an AEP® (Accredited Estate Planner) — credentials very few estate attorneys hold together.
30 yrsPracticing law in Missouri
11 yrsIn wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®Certified Financial Planner
AEP®Accredited Estate Planner
Past ChairProbate & Trust Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Ready to talk through your plan?
Call 636-214-0546Client Reviews
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Questions
Questions
A legal arrangement that holds your property in an irrevocable trust, managed by an independent trustee, so future creditors and lawsuits generally can't reach it.
Yes — if it's an irrevocable asset protection trust, set up correctly and before any claim exists. Once your property is transferred in, an independent trustee owns it, not you, so most future creditors and legal judgments can't reach it.
No. Asset protection trusts only cover future claims — a court can unwind a transfer made to dodge an existing or reasonably foreseeable lawsuit.
An LLC keeps business liabilities from reaching your personal assets. An asset protection trust protects your personal assets directly — the two work together, not as substitutes for each other.
You give up direct ownership and day-to-day control, but depending on how it's structured, you can still benefit from the trust as a beneficiary.
Generally, no. It's irrevocable — that permanence is part of what makes the protection legitimate in court.
Yes, with specific requirements around trustees and timing that we'll walk you through.
It depends on your assets and how complex your situation is. Call for a free 30-minute consultation and you'll get a flat fee before you commit to anything.
Ready to Protect What You've Built?
Call to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with Deborah — no obligation.
Call 636-214-0546Free 30-minute consultationNo obligationReal person answers