The fact is that successful people who either inherit or build up significant assets can become targets of a lawsuit. If you are sued, your property and financial assets can be exposed to possible court judgments. For those still growing assets and carrying a large debt load, it can make you a target for creditors. It is often helpful to can I put my house in a trust to avoid creditors in Tennessee to ensure your primary residence remains secure. Your local Brentwood, TN, asset protection lawyer can help you create an estate plan to protect your assets.

Asset protection provides legal protection in Tennessee through estate planning, establishing a Tennessee Investment Service Trust (TIST), or other legally valid options, depending on your asset protection needs. You should also understand why you would want to avoid probate in Tennessee as part of your long-term wealth preservation strategy. When you need help, get the knowledge and experience you count on and trust in the team at Emmack Probate and Estate Law Group. We understand that each of our clients has unique needs and work hard to provide them with the service they deserve.
A Brentwood asset protection attorney can help create a legally solid estate plan using a variety of tools, including the TIST, other types of trusts suited to your situation, insurance plans, or a legal suite of documents to protect your estate.
Tennessee offers residents protection, including:
Asset protection laws in Tennessee vary due to a wide range of legal qualifications and defined coverage limits. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court recently released the statistics for June 2025, indicating that in the last 12-month period, bankruptcy filings increased by 14.2%.
For Williamson County, the total number of filings was 214, and for Middle Tennessee as a whole, there were 5,374. These figures represent only bankruptcy-related asset protection cases, but the trend to go to court is moving upward. If you have more than the standard asset value protected in Tennessee, you need to hire an asset protection lawyer to help you create a legal protection plan.
Williamson County reports for 2024 indicate a variety of asset protection cases resulted in asset disposition. Hire a local Brentwood asset protection attorney at Emmack Probate and Estate Law Group to help secure your assets in the present and for the future. Our firm has been serving the Middle Tennessee area for 15 years with a focus on your unique asset protection case.
An asset protection attorney can help you decide which options work for your needs. The primary legal tools for estate planning include:
A 2025 survey found that 59% of Americans have no estate plan. Another 13% have a type of trust, and 4% have other non-specific arrangements. Keep in mind, estate planning is more than what happens after you die, as lawsuits can result from motor vehicle accidents, disagreements within a business, business customers, divorce, or other ways. Setting up a legally valid estate plan is essential for protecting your assets now and in the future.
An experienced asset protection attorney in Brentwood, TN helps you create an estate plan unique to your needs. Whether you own a business or have other important financial assets, leverage the experience and knowledge of a qualified asset protection lawyer from Emmack Probate and Estate Law Group.
How much an Asset Protect Lawyer costs in Tennessee is based on several factors. These include the experience of the attorney, the complexity of the case, and whether the case needs to be litigated or settled in court. Reviewing the specifics of your case during an initial consultation will allow your attorney to dissect your unique circumstances and estimate what costs you could incur.
There are several assets protected in a Tennessee lawsuit. These include PPE for up to $10,000 of personal items, a homestead exemption for up to $35,000 of a residential home’s value, retirement accounts such as a 401K, IRA, or pension, and life insurance payouts to a spouse or child may be exempt. Note, you must file with your county to receive the standard exemptions.
Not all assets are worth inheritance, and the six worst assets to inherit can include timeshares, family businesses without a legal estate or transfer plan, guns or firearms, antiques or collectibles, and properties with debt liens or an active mortgage. Each of these assets either requires maintenance fees, additional insurance, or registration fees. Additionally, inheriting debt means the debt must be resolved before the property can be transferred. You might even find yourself paying for your inheritance.
Personal assets cannot be seized in Tennessee, including all personal property up to $10,000 in value, a residential home’s worth up to $35,000, more for married couples, retirement accounts and pensions, or life insurance payouts made to a spouse or child. Unfortunately, if you own a home in the Nashville area worth more than $35,000, you may lose the bulk of the asset value without first having a legal asset protection plan.
Contact a Brentwood, TN asset protection attorney at the Emmack Probate and Estate Law Group today. Whether you need to protect individual or business assets from bankruptcy, divorce, or death, Attorney Shanone Emmack is here to help. She lends both her extensive 10 years of Tennessee legal experience with estate planning and probate, and her dedication to resolving your case effectively and efficiently.