Series LLC For Real Estate Investors In Texas

The Lone Star State is a great place to live, love, and work. In fact, we like this state so much that our firm is based deep in the heart of Texas in Austin. If you’ve lived in Texas long enough, someone has inevitably told you about how everything is bigger here. It just so happens that the same is true of Series LLC benefits.

Texas Series LLCs Are Among the Strongest

The Series LLC isn’t universally structured. The entity is defined and legally controlled at the state level. In fact, not all states have Series LLCs. But Texans are fortunate to have a local option for the Series LLC. If you live in Texas, you won’t need to pay any additional fees that non-Texan investors would expect.

How Does the Texas Series LLC Benefit Real Estate Investors?

We at Royal Legal think this entity kicks ass for a few reasons. Here are just a few of our favorites:

  1. Texas Series LLCs are protected by strong state laws. You can’t be held liable for the actions of your LLC and vice versa.
  2. Forms the core of your asset protection plan by limiting liability and compartmentalizing your assets into Series.
  3. Stops lawsuits dead in their tracks. You don’t own assets. The entity you control, your Series LLC in this case, does.
  4. Streamlines business dramatically. Organizing and bookkeeping is simple, too. You can normally keep doing whatever you were before.
  5. No special requirements for meetings, minutes, or other red tape.
  6. No state income taxes--at all! You’ll have to let the Comptroller know once a year that you have “no taxes due.” Our staff can even help you out with this task.

But the benefits hardly stop there. Learn more about how the Series LLC protects your assets now.

Get Your Texas Series LLC Sooner Rather Than Later

If all of this sounds fantastic to you, we advise proactivity. So even if you’re brand new to investing, it’s not too early to start constructing your asset protection plan. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the law truly favors the proactive. If you wait for a lawsuit threat to strike, it’ll be too late to get your assets into the safety of the Series LLC structure. If you’re ready to learn more about how this entity can help you in particular, consult with one of our experts.

What States Are Permitting Series LLCs?

The Series LLC is beloved by investors and business people for its versatility and a broad range of benefits. However, it isn't a universal structure yet. Not all states allow the in-state formation of Series LLCs. Below, we'll go over which states do not permit Series LLCs. We'll also tell you what you can do if you live in one of those states. Don't worry--you can still form a Series LLC. Keep reading to learn how.

States that Offer Series LLCs

The Series LLC was initially pioneered by Delaware, a famously pro-business state. Even today, Delaware remains a popular state for entity formation. Other states followed in Delaware's footsteps, and today you can get a Series LLC in Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Nevada, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Iowa.

Though not technically a state, residents of Puerto Rico also have the option to form a Series LLC without ever leaving the island.

States That Don't Permit Series LLCs

As of this writing, the only state that doesn't allow the formation of an in-state Series LLC is California. California has specific and strict regulations governing business in general, and there is currently no such thing as a California Series LLC. Traditional LLCs are common, as are other types of entities and agreements. We've written about special considerations for California real estate investors before.

If your state doesn't offer a Series LLC, don't slam your hand down on the panic button just yet. There's a way to get around the restrictions of your location, easily and 100% legally.

How to Form a Series LLC From Any State

Fortunately, your Series LLC doesn't have to be formed in your state of residence. This means, provided you're a U.S. citizen, you can form an out-of-state Series LLC.

The following are the most popular states for forming a Series LLC:

Each of these options comes with specific operational, judicial, and tax benefits. Which option will be best for you depends on which features and perks you'll get the most out of. For more details, refer to our previous article on the best states for forming a Series LLC.

After you've selected a state and formed your LLC, you will be able to register the company with your state of residence. Even California allows its residents to register a Nevada or Texas Series LLC and conduct business within California. Of course, these laws will vary based on where you live. Each state will have its own regulations that dictate what you and your company must do to be in compliance with the law. You can get an idea of what you'll need to do by doing some basic research online.

However, the wisest course of action is to seek the guidance of an attorney with experience in entity formation, and ideally, experience with Series LLC in particular. At Royal Legal Solutions, we routinely help our clients select, form, and manage the best type of Series LLC for their individual situations. If you have questions about the best option for you or are ready to get started, don't hesitate. Reach out to us and schedule your Series LLC consultation.

Asset Protection For Real Estate Investors in Texas

The rumors are true, folks: everything really is bigger in Texas. This can be a double-edged sword for real estate investors in Texas, because while the state has many big opportunities for investors of any budget, the lawsuit business is also big. And real estate investors are more likely to be sued than the average Joe or Jane. So if you want to take advantage of the many opportunities and rewards available for investors in the Lone Star State, you will definitely want to be aware of the quirks of investing here as well as how you can protect yourself. A high-quality, iron-clad asset protection plan can prevent you from ever being victimized by a suit, but it will also protect the majority of your wealth even if you are sued.

In Texas, real estate investors have special concerns about asset protection that we will review below. But we will also show you how some simple precautions, the right information, and good professional help can protect your investments and other valuable assets. Let's dive in.

Why Do I Need an Asset Protection Plan?

The short answer is that anyone with assets worth having at all should have an asset protection plan. This is especially true for real estate investors, or other types of investors who own valuable assets of any type. The suggestions in this article work just as well for protecting an expensive vehicle or other asset as they do for real estate.
Attorneys are like vampires in more ways than we care to admit. Only instead of feeding on blood, we have an unhealthy dependency on money. And you better believe that we love money as much as vampires like blood. So asset protection keeps the legal vampires away by ensuring that they can't feed on your blood/money. Sucking the lifeblood out of a lawsuit makes it an unattractive endeavor for any attorney who might come after you or your assets. Even the most cash-thirsty lawyer in the world won't file against you if you're difficult to sue, or just plain not worth enough to make it a wise expense of his/her time. Asset protection makes you both of these things.

Key Asset Protection Tools for Texas Investors

The Texas Series LLC

The Series LLC is among the strongest asset protection tools that any real estate investor can exploit. Not all LLCs are created equally, and the costs and legal protections they offer depend heavily on which state the LLC is formed in. Fortunately for Texans, you can go local.  The Texas Series LLC is a highly effective asset protection structure. As an added bonus, it's easier to set up a Series LLC in your home state because you'll be free of the legal requirement to have a registered agent. Agents aren't free, so you'll be saving money by using this structure.
The Texas Series LLC is booming in popularity in part because it's the gift that keeps on giving. It operates similarly to a Traditional LLC, but has the distinct bonus of allowing you to add assets to the structure indefinitely. The Series LLC uses a parent-child structure which allows you to add new assets to the network as you acquire them. Each asset will have its own "child" LLC, complete with liability protection. In practice, this means that when you buy a new property, you will only need a few minutes at your computer and your attorney's signature to add it to your LLC network.

Anonymous Trusts

Anonymity is absolutely crucial to an effective asset protection plan. When you use an  Anonymous Trust alongside the Series LLC in conjunction with the Series LLC, your assets receive an additional layer of protection. The Anonymous Trust allows you to own and operate the Series LLC without your name ever even appearing on it.

This method protects you by making it nearly impossible to prove you own the assets in question in the event of a lawsuit. Even if someone knows you own it, they won't be able to prove it in court. The fact that you can't be reasonably or easily connected to the property will make it nearly impossible to sue you personally. Its placement in the series limits the amount you could be sued for in the first place, making both you and the asset highly unattractive targets for us money-hungry attorneys. We don't hunt if there's nothing to feast on.

Of course, there are other tools you can use to beef up your asset protection plan. Our experts combine land trusts, contracts, and many more legal and banking strategies to design the most effective plan for you.

Start Protecting Your Assets Today

Don't hesitate any longer. If you're an investor in Texas, you don't want to risk the investments you've poured your heart, soul, and hard-earned resources. All it takes is one suit to clean you out of everything. Don't let the vampires get to you. Use the tips above to form an asset protection plan that is more powerful than a house full of silver stakes, garlic, and crosses. At Royal Legal Solutions, we are here to make sure you get to keep the things you've worked your whole life for. Call us today to set up an asset protection consultation, and we will help you build the best possible asset protection strategy for your individual needs. Let us deal with the vampires while you focus on your business, free from the stench of garlic or civil court.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any additional questions about investing in Texas, fire them off in the comments below. We love making sure investors have access to this important information.
 

Series LLCs (SLLC) 101: A Primer

Whoever said, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” wasn’t familiar with a Series LLC business structure, or SLLC.

Real estate investors around the nation are benefiting from this organizational framework. For many investors, the primary appeal lies in simplicity, safety and flexibility. Any nominal drawbacks can be readily addressed, or even proved to be advantageous, with the professional guidance of an asset protection specialist such as Royal Legal Solutions.

Take a few minutes to read the following overview to enhance your business or investment strategies.

SLLC Definitions

Series: 

Another term could be, “child”, “project”, “subsidiary” or “company”.  Picture a honeycomb, as in a beehive, with one or an infinite number of independent “cells”.  For our purposes, the partitions between these “cells” aren’t made of wax, but of solid steel.  Properly constructed, one unit may or may not complement the overall functions of others.  Properly constructed, none rely on others in order to function.  Each is autonomous.

LLC:

Once “series” is affixed, another term could be, “parent”, “umbrella” or “the beehive”. Now the bees enjoy economy and efficiency, but the beekeepers and bears can only attack a single, isolated, “cell”, one at a time.  All the other “cells”, the entirety of the beehive, remain in tact.

The Delaware Model:   

Barely more than 20 years ago, the Delaware Legislature, lobbied by the mutual fund industry, developed the innovative means to reduce duplicate paperwork, transparency, and liability in matters of taxation or litigation.  Presently, at least 16 states, Puerto Rico and D.C. have adopted some form of this legislation.
NOTE: With very rare exceptions, anyone can register a business of any type with any Secretary of State.  Regardless of residency, whether your legislature has adopted the Delaware Model, a variation thereof or none of the above … establishment of, investment in, an SLLC can be available to anyone.

Origins of the Series LLC

There is a unique objective of an SLLC that can provide exceptional advantages compared to a traditional LLC or any other business structure.  As referenced above, back in 1996, Delaware created the vehicle by which a single entity can be managed independently as “one” or operated as an alliance of “many” at the same time.

Texas law is essentially a mirror-image of what many refer to as, “The Delaware Series LLC” … ‘same benefits and advantages, with no requirement for annual renewal fees or paperwork.

Even in states other than Delaware and Texas, there are the same two common denominators.  Existing in the best of both worlds, an SLLC is an LLC with internal departments and an unlimited number of LLC ‘s under one ownership.  There is no distinction as to whether any “member” (“owner”) is an individual, sole proprietor / DBA, corporation, non-profit, partnership, spouse or even human or external LLC.

Some Advantages of the Series LLC

Barring any violation of law, government regulations or public policy, an SLLC Operating Agreement enjoys “maximum flexibility” and “freedom of contract”.  Members have extraordinary latitude in making their own rules and terms.

There is no pre-determined tax rate or business category. In general, membership may be able to elect to file and pay as sole proprietors, partners, corporate shareholders, non-profits or have the SLLC be the taxpayer of record.  Specifically, of course, the entity must be created in a way that is fully compliant while optimally beneficial.  Tax liability of the whole is limited to individual members’ respective risk, gain, compensation or stake as defined by the Operating Agreement.  “Double taxation” (on the SLLC and the membership) is most often avoided.

Contingent upon the state’s “shield laws”, members are generally protected from liability for the acts or debts of the SLLC.  This protection is extended to membership enrollments as few as one.  In the realm of real estate and real estate investment, each property can be treated as separate entities.  One deal gone south, one “slip and fall” lawsuit, should have no impact on the profits of other projects or the members thereof.

The economy of a Series Limited Liability Company is not “limited” to lower tax liability, or the savings in administrative manpower and paperwork.  One filing fee paid to the Texas Secretary of State will put you in business, no matter how many bees or honeycombs there are or may be subsequently added to the hive.  Unlike other states or business entities, to include Delaware, there are no “renewal fees” … annually or at any other time in the state of Texas.

Caveats  

Presently, there are about 15,000 words, about 50 pages and over 600 subsections in the Texas state statutes which govern LLC’s and SLLC’s.  No one can quantify or apply all the associated rules and regulations now in place with federal, out-of-state and foreign agencies.  (e.g., Canada doesn’t even recognize such a legal entity, but Canadians can participate in U.S. SLLC’s.)

Yet consistently, after 2 decades, the innovative “Delaware Model” (Series LLC) appears to be immune to significant litigation or legal challenges.  With only 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. is home to 80% of the planet’s lawyers.  Regardless, we’re still trying to find many legal cases in which Texas, Delaware or any states’ similar laws have even been contested. The only thing better than winning a lawsuit is never having one filed.

Yes, the fundamentals are simple, safe and flexible.  No, they aren’t “idiot-proof”.  Then again, any reasonably smart business owner can avoid any pitfalls: