Protect What You've Built
Before It's Too Late.
- Shield your business, real estate & personal assets
- Protect against lawsuits, creditors & judgments
- Flat-fee pricing — know your cost before you commit
Let's Protect What You've Built.
Tell us what you'd like to protect and a member of our team will reach out to schedule your complimentary paralegal call.
Protect Your Family From Avoidable Taxes,
Court Costs & Court Proceedings.
Asset protection is not just for the wealthy — it's for anyone who has worked hard to build something and wants to make sure it stays in the right hands. The right legal strategies, put in place before a crisis hits, can mean the difference between keeping everything and losing it all.
- Avoid guardianships
- Avoid probate
- Protect your kid's inheritance in case they get sued or divorced
- Protect your home
- Protect your business
What Happens If You Pass Away
Unexpectedly?
- Can your family continue to run your business smoothly?
- Will there be enough liquid resources to hire key personnel or managers?
- How can you prevent disputes among family members in a family-owned business?
Planning ahead is crucial — especially for family businesses. Your business is often one of your family's most valuable assets. Without a clear plan, uncertainty can lead to conflict and financial hardship.
We help you create a comprehensive business succession plan and estate plan that protects your family and your business interests — ensuring your legacy is preserved and your loved ones are cared for.
Don't leave your family's future to chance. Protect your business and family today.
Whether you're buying an existing business or starting one from scratch, proper planning is crucial. Many entrepreneurs make the costly mistake of thinking that once they've chosen a business entity, their planning is complete. This is far from the truth.
Selecting the right entity is vital for tax and liability purposes. Whether you opt for an LLC, Corporation, or Partnership, the entity you choose should align with your business goals and protect your personal assets.
A well-drafted agreement — such as a partnership agreement, operating agreement, or shareholder agreement — defines ownership, roles, and responsibilities. This is essential to avoid disputes and ensure business continuity.
Business succession planning is a critical aspect of your estate plan. Ensure you have a clear strategy for transferring ownership and management in the event of retirement, death, or disability.
Flat-Fee Asset Protection & Business Planning
You've worked hard to build your business and your assets — now it's time to protect them. Know your cost upfront, no hourly billing surprises. We handle the legal strategy so you can focus on what you do best.
If You've Built Something Worth Keeping,
You Need Asset Protection.
Asset protection isn't just for the ultra-wealthy. If you own a home, run a business, invest in real estate, or have a family depending on you — you have something worth protecting. Here's who we help.
You've worked hard to provide for your family. But without the right legal protections in place, a lawsuit, an accident, or an unexpected death could threaten everything — your home, your savings, your children's inheritance.
- Protect your home from creditors and judgments
- Shield your kids' inheritance in case they get sued or divorced
- Avoid guardianship proceedings if you become incapacitated
- Ensure a smooth transfer of assets — without probate
Many business owners believe that forming an LLC or corporation fully protects them. It doesn't. Without proper operating agreements, succession planning, and estate integration, your personal assets — your home, savings, retirement accounts — remain exposed.
- Entity creation — LLC, Corporation, or Partnership
- Operating agreements that define ownership and roles
- Business succession planning integrated into your estate plan
- Protection from disputes among family members or partners
Real estate investors face unique liability exposure — a tenant injury, a property dispute, or a contractor claim can put every property you own at risk. The right legal structure keeps each asset protected and separate from your personal finances.
- LLC structuring for each property or portfolio
- Protect personal assets from property-related lawsuits
- Ancillary planning for out-of-state properties
- Integrate real estate holdings into your estate plan
Your golden years should be spent enjoying family — not worrying about outliving your money or losing your savings to a nursing home. Proper asset protection planning ensures your retirement accounts, home, and life savings stay protected.
- Protect retirement accounts from creditors
- Medicaid planning to preserve assets for your spouse
- Avoid probate and protect your home
- Ensure your wishes are honored through advanced directives
Doctors, attorneys, contractors, and other licensed professionals face above-average lawsuit exposure. A single malpractice claim or professional dispute — even a frivolous one — can threaten your personal assets if you don't have the right protections in place.
- Entity structures that separate personal and professional liability
- Asset protection trusts and exempt asset planning
- Integration with your personal estate plan
- Planning before a claim arises — not after
The Attorney Who Protects What You've Spent a Lifetime Building.
Asset protection isn't something you do after a crisis — it's something you put in place before one ever happens. Patricia founded her practice to make that process straightforward, personal, and stress-free.
Patricia F. Keyes
Florida Asset Protection Attorney
Attorney Patricia F. Keyes has been helping South Florida families and business owners protect their assets for over 17 years. With an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami, she brings a depth of legal knowledge that goes well beyond basic LLC formation or a standard will package.
Patty understands that true asset protection requires a comprehensive, integrated strategy — one that connects your business interests, your real estate holdings, your estate plan, and your family's future into a single, cohesive plan. She takes the time to understand your full picture before recommending a single strategy. You work directly with Patricia — not a paralegal, not a junior associate.
"You've spent a lifetime building something worth protecting. My job is to make sure the law is working for you — before something goes wrong."
— Patricia F. Keyes, Esq., LL.M.
Jodi Mc-Mahon Bergman
Paralegal
Brant Boehm
Legal Assistant
Catherine Laystrom
Legal Assistant
Lyn Estrada
Paralegal
Arianny Bolivar
Legal Assistant
South Florida Families & Business Owners Trust PKLaw.
Don't take our word for it — hear from the clients we've helped protect their homes, businesses, and legacies across Broward County and beyond.
Asset Protection Questions Answered.
What is asset protection and why do I need it?
Asset protection is the process of legally structuring your assets so they are shielded from future creditors, lawsuits, and judgments. It's not about hiding assets — it's about putting legal barriers in place before a claim arises. Once a lawsuit is filed, it's often too late to act. The best time to protect your assets is now, while everything is secure.
Is asset protection only for wealthy people?
Absolutely not. If you own a home, run a business, invest in real estate, or have a family depending on you — you have something worth protecting. Anyone with assets can be sued. In fact, middle-class families are often the most vulnerable because they have meaningful assets but lack the sophisticated planning that wealthier individuals use.
When is the best time to put asset protection in place?
Before you need it. Asset protection planning done after a lawsuit is filed — or even after a threat arises — can be challenged as a fraudulent transfer under Florida law. The time to act is when everything is calm and secure. Think of it like insurance: you buy it before the accident, not after.
Does forming an LLC fully protect my personal assets?
Not on its own. An LLC provides a layer of protection, but it must be properly maintained — separate bank accounts, proper record-keeping, and a well-drafted operating agreement are essential. If you commingle personal and business funds or fail to follow corporate formalities, a court can "pierce the corporate veil" and hold you personally liable. Forming the LLC is just the first step.
What is a business succession plan and do I need one?
A business succession plan is a legal strategy for transferring ownership and management of your business in the event of your retirement, death, or disability. Without one, your business — often your most valuable asset — could be lost to court proceedings, family disputes, or forced liquidation. If you own a business, your estate plan is incomplete without a succession plan.
What documents do I need to properly protect my business?
Beyond entity formation, you need an operating agreement or shareholder agreement that defines ownership percentages, roles, decision-making authority, and what happens if a partner dies or wants to exit. You may also need buy-sell agreements, key person insurance integration, and a business succession plan tied to your personal estate plan.
How do I protect my children's inheritance if they get divorced or sued?
Assets left outright to a child can be lost in a divorce or seized by their creditors. A properly drafted trust — with spendthrift provisions — keeps your child's inheritance protected even if they face a lawsuit or a divorce. The assets remain in trust and are distributed on your terms, not their creditor's.
Can asset protection help me avoid probate?
Yes — many asset protection strategies, including revocable living trusts and proper beneficiary designations, also help your estate avoid probate entirely. This saves your family time, money, and the stress of court proceedings after you pass away. A comprehensive plan addresses both asset protection and probate avoidance together.
How does asset protection interact with Medicaid planning?
They overlap significantly. Many families need to protect assets from both creditors and long-term care costs. Medicaid has strict look-back rules — transfers made within 5 years of applying can be penalized. Proper planning, done early, can protect your home, savings, and retirement accounts while still qualifying for Medicaid when needed. Attorney Keyes handles both together.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late.
Protect Your Assets Today.
The best asset protection is the kind you put in place before a crisis hits. Tell us what you'd like to protect and we'll be honest about what you need and exactly what it will cost. Start with a complimentary call with our paralegal. No obligation. No pressure. Flat fees — no surprises.