This is a vital, complicated area. Two principles are paramount, do all you can in advance of a problem, and reduce your reachable worth according to the law in your locality.

But some general principles apply, discussed here, but to be discussed with your assett attorney.
 
The keys to protection are to either be too lean to be worthwhile, or too much trouble to be worth the effort. Regarding the first, placing assets in the names of people you want to have them anyway, such as children, spouse, and other family is a good tool. If you keep the assets, place them in separate companies, such as LLC or LLP entitiies. In those situations a creditor may attach a distuibution from the entitity, but such distributions may not occur for a long time, or not occur at all. They will not reach the assets otherwise.

Some types of ownership, which are not possible in all states, create substantial protection. If you and your spouse are tenants in the entirity of a home, condo, timeshare or other item, this has a strong protection as long as you maintain it. This means each party owns all of the home, for example. Thus it is not possible to split it for a creditor. If you sell it together, and purchase another the protection transfers. But check, this does not exist in all states. Tenants in common is different and not protective.

As far as making it too difficult and too lengthy to reach assets, under the attoneys direction, you can place assets in a series of entities. You can encumber them with debt that makes them of reduced value. They can be offshore where different laws apply.

Beware of mistakes in handling assets that can place you and they at risk. In particular, fraudulent conveyence laws apply. The essence is that if you sell or transfer an asset you must get fair market value for it. Fair market value is close to the appraised value, 80% is one rule used. This will be particularly important if any transfer or sale occurs after your knowledge of the litigation or possible claim.

How likely is it that you personal assets will be taken? This is hard to estimate. It is rare apparently, but it does occur. Even before you escape that risk, you may have a creditor attack your credit record, which can have serious consequences in many situations. As these cases may take months or longer to negotiate to a conclusion, plan for fighting this issue as well.