Can I keep my name off the public records of a company that owns my yacht?

Florida is pretty transparent when it comes to LLCs. You need to use a registered agent and avoid being the manager if you want to stya off Sunbiz. But the yacht registration itself might still be public.

If you're in Florida, the state requires the name of the managing member to be listed on the annual report. You can use a nominee or a trust, but that adds complexity. For the yyacht, Coast Guard documentation is federal and doesn't show ownership publicly, but state registration might.

You can't completely hide if you're the one signing the check. But an LLC with a registered agent and a separate manager can help. Just don't put your name on the title.

This is a common question. I've done it with a Wyoming LLC holding the yacht. Wyoming doesn't require member disclosure. But if you're operating in Florida waters, you might need to register the boat there, which could expose you.

Wyoming LLC is a good idea, but if the boat is kept in Florida, you'll likely need to register it in Florida. And Florida registration requires a name and address. You could use the LLC's name and the registered agent's address ngl.

Actually, Florida registration for vessels requires the owner's name and address. If the owner is an LLC, you provide the LLC's information and the registered agent's address. So your name wouldn't appear unless you're the registered agent. But the LLC's members might still be discoverable through other means.

What about using a trust? A trust can own the LLC and the trustee's name might be public, but you could use a corporate trustee. More expensive but effective.

Thanks for the info. So if I use a Wyoming LLC with a registered agent, and register the boat in Florida under the LLC's name with the agent's address, my name shouldn't show up on the registration. But what about the Coast Guard documentation? I heard that's private.

Coast Guard documentation is not public. Only the vessel name and official numberr are searchable, not the owner. So that's a plus. But you need to make sure the LLC is the documented owner.

Just remember that if you're the one using the boat, people might still figure it out. Privacy is about making it harder, not impossible

Also, Florida has a public records law that can be a pain. But for vessel registration, the owner's address is required, but it can be the registered agent's. So you're good there, though.

One more thing: if you finance the yacht, the lender will likely require personal guarantees, which could put your name in public records via UCC filings. So consider paying cash or using a non-recourse loan if possible.

UCC filings are a good point. Those are public and can link you to the LLC if you're a guarantor. So avoid personal guarantees if you can.

I hadn't thought about UCC filings. I plan to pay cash, so hopefully that avoids it. But what about insurance? Does the insurance policy show up anywhere public?

Insurance policies are generally not public. But if there's a claim, it could become part of a court record. Just something to keep in mind.

You're overthinking it. Get a good lawyer and a registered agent, and you'll be fine. Most people won't dig that deep.