Asset Protection Attorney in Tampa, FL
When your financial security is on the line, you don’t need noise — you need precision. At The Law Office of Paul J. Monsanto, P.A., we help Tampa residents and business owners protect what they’ve built from lawsuits, creditors, and unexpected financial threats. Whether you’re responding to an immediate risk or planning ahead for long-term security, you’ll have an attorney who combines deep legal understanding with strategic financial insight.
Protecting What You’ve Earned: Before and After Trouble Arises
Asset protection isn’t just for the wealthy. It’s for anyone who’s worked too hard to let their assets disappear due to poor planning, litigation, or a sudden claim.
Paul Monsanto creates custom legal strategies that insulate your personal and business assets while staying fully compliant with Florida and federal law. His approach merges estate planning, business structuring, and risk management into one unified legal defense system.
When others panic, you’ll have a plan.
Why Tampa Clients Choose Paul J. Monsanto, P.A.
Clarity. Responsibility. Sound Judgment.
Those aren’t just values — they’re the foundation of every client relationship.
- Elite Legal and Financial Background: Duke Law graduate and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) — a rare combination that brings financial precision to legal strategy.
- Multi-State Bar Admission: Licensed in Florida and New York, with federal court experience.
- Local Connection: A Tampa native who built his practice where he lives and raises his family.
- Client-Centered Service: Every strategy is customized to the client’s exact financial and personal situation.
- Proven Track Record: Over 15 years of experience protecting clients’ assets and estates.
When you call Paul, you’re not getting a generic estate plan — you’re getting a strategic shield designed by someone who’s seen every angle of the law.
How Asset Protection Works
Legal Structures That Defend You
LLCs, trusts, and family limited partnerships can separate your personal assets from business risks. Paul will determine which combination makes sense for your income, properties, and exposure level.
Homestead and Florida Protections
Florida offers some of the strongest homestead exemptions in the country. Used correctly, they can keep your primary residence safe from most creditors. Used incorrectly, they can expose it. That’s the difference between guesswork and legal precision.
Insurance as a Legal Safety Net
Strategic insurance planning — liability, umbrella, or professional coverage — complements legal structures. Paul coordinates both sides, ensuring your coverage supports your protection plan.
Estate and Legacy Planning Integration
For families and business owners, asset protection is inseparable from estate planning. Trusts, beneficiary designations, and succession plans ensure wealth moves forward — not sideways in probate.
Preventive Timing
The best protection happens before a lawsuit, not after. But even if you’re already facing a threat, swift, compliant action can still reduce exposure. Timing is everything — and strategy decides outcomes.
Tampa’s Dual Approach to Asset Protection
- Reactive Defense: For those already facing claims, liens, or potential lawsuits — you’ll get rapid, compliant solutions that reduce risk and preserve assets.
- Proactive Planning: For business owners, property investors, and families securing the next generation’s future — you’ll establish a durable framework that withstands time and uncertainty.
Either way, your protection starts with one conversation.
You can expect a very knowledgeable
and empathetic attorney
Frequently Asked Questions – General Asset Protection
What is asset protection?
Asset protection is a set of legal and financial strategies designed to keep your wealth safe from lawsuits, creditors, or unexpected liabilities. It can include trusts, LLCs, exemptions, and other lawful tools.
When should I start asset protection planning?
The best time is before any lawsuit or financial threat appears. Courts often view last-minute transfers as fraudulent. Starting early keeps everything legitimate and defensible.
Is asset protection legal?
Yes — when done properly. It’s about structuring your assets within the limits of the law to reduce risk exposure, not to hide assets or avoid lawful debts.
Can asset protection help business owners?
Absolutely. By separating personal and business assets, you limit your personal liability for business debts, lawsuits, or judgments.
What happens if I already have a pending lawsuit?
Options become narrower but not impossible. Paul can still help restructure certain assets ethically to reduce exposure within the legal boundaries of Florida law.
FAQs – About Paul J. Monsanto’s Services
Do you combine estate planning with asset protection?
Yes. Paul integrates asset protection with wills, trusts, and tax planning to create complete financial security for individuals and families.
What makes Paul different from other asset protection attorneys in Tampa?
Few attorneys combine a Duke Law education, CFA-level financial understanding, and 15+ years of both litigation and estate planning experience. Paul brings clarity and foresight that others can’t.
How long does the process take?
It depends on your circumstances. Some clients have protection strategies in place within days; others require layered structures involving multiple entities or trusts.
Do you work with clients outside Tampa?
Yes. While based in Tampa and Wesley Chapel, Paul also serves clients across Hillsborough, Pasco, and surrounding counties.
What should I bring to a consultation?
Bring an overview of your assets — real estate, investments, business interests, and liabilities. The first meeting is about understanding your exposure, not selling you documents.
Practice areas
I am also available to assist with probate, real estate, Medicaid planning, asset protection and my clients’ other legal needs, when possible
