Nationwide Coverage

Where Will You Form Your Family Limited Partnership?

Pick a state to compare filing costs, timelines, and ongoing requirements for your Family Limited Partnership.

What is a Family Limited Partnership?

Understanding Family Limited Partnership formation and benefits

Family Limited Partnership

Family Limited Partnership

A Family Limited Partnership allows family members to transfer assets while maintaining control and providing estate planning tax benefits. Often used for family businesses, real estate holdings, and wealth preservation.

Key Benefits of a Family LP

  • Estate tax planning and asset preservation
  • Family business succession planning
  • Assets control while transferring ownership
  • Creditor protection and liability limitation
  • Generational wealth transfer strategies

Ready to Launch Your Family Limited Partnership?

Start My Business Now
Entity Advantages

Why Choose Our Family Limited Partnership Formation

Asset Protection

FLPs protect family assets from creditors while retaining family control.

Generational Planning

Helps with transferring wealth across generations with tax advantages.

Management Efficiency

Concentrates decision-making power with general partners while preserving family ownership.

Corporate Book
Included

What's Included on our Service Fee?

  • State Filing Fee
  • Corporate or Company Seal
  • Records Book
  • Certificate or Articles of Incorporation or Organization
  • Company and Corporate Minutes
  • Corporation Bylaws or LLC Regulations
  • Corporate Stock or LLC Membership Certificate(s)
  • Banking Resolution
  • Preliminary Name Search
FAQ

Family Limited Partnership Formation FAQ

A Family Limited Partnership is a Limited Partnership formed by family members to hold, manage, and transfer family assets across generations. Typically, parents or senior family members serve as general partners and retain control over the assets, while limited partnership interests are transferred to children or other family members over time. It is one of the most effective legal structures for estate planning, asset protection, and generational wealth transfer.

Families with significant assets — real estate portfolios, business interests, investment accounts, or other concentrated wealth — who want to transfer that wealth to the next generation in a controlled, tax-efficient way. It is also used by business owners who want to begin transitioning ownership to family members while maintaining operational control during their lifetime.

When limited partnership interests are gifted to family members, those interests are often valued at a discount relative to the underlying assets because limited partners have no control and limited marketability. This valuation discount allows more wealth to be transferred within annual gift tax exclusions and reduces the taxable estate. The IRS has rules around this, and the structure must be properly implemented to withstand scrutiny.

Full operational control. General partners make all management decisions, control distributions, and direct how assets within the partnership are invested or used. Transferring limited partnership interests to family members does not dilute that control. The FLP allows wealth to move while authority stays in place.

Yes, with important limitations. Assets held inside the FLP are generally protected from the personal creditors of individual limited partners. A creditor who obtains a judgment against a limited partner typically cannot seize partnership assets directly — they may only be entitled to a charging order, which gives them a right to distributions but no control over the partnership. The FLP must be properly formed and operated for this protection to hold.

Real estate, investment portfolios, business interests, and cash are the most commonly transferred assets. Certain assets, such as retirement accounts and personal residences, generally should not be transferred into an FLP for tax and practical reasons. Your attorney and CPA will identify exactly which assets belong inside the structure and which do not.

We draft the partnership agreement, file the certificate of limited partnership with the state, establish the general and limited partner ownership structure, prepare the initial capital contributions, and coordinate with your estate planning attorney and CPA to ensure the FLP integrates correctly with your broader plan.

The partnership filing itself is typically completed within 5 to 7 business days. The partnership agreement and the asset transfer strategy require additional time and coordination with your advisors. Your attorney will walk you through the full timeline at the start of the engagement.

Yes. We handle FLP formations nationwide. If the family holds assets in multiple states, your attorney will advise on formation state, governing law, and any additional filings required where assets are located.

Yes. We offer a complimentary 15-minute call with one of our attorneys before any engagement begins. An FLP is a significant planning decision and that call will give you a clear picture of whether the structure fits your family's goals before you commit to anything.

An FLP that is improperly drafted or funded can be unwound by the IRS, leaving your estate in a worse position than if you had done nothing. The structure, the partnership agreement, the valuation methodology, and the asset transfer must all be coordinated correctly. Our attorneys handle that coordination. A filing service handles the paperwork.
Blog

Latest Family Limited Partnership Insights & Updates