This holiday weekend many South Floridians will be getting together with family members to celebrate Easter and Passover 2012. Organizing family gatherings, preparing lavish meals, and participating in special songs and customs will be the focus of attention. Children in particular will be anticipating customary gifts.

If you’re struggling in preparing the perfect Easter basket for your little ones, here’s something to consider. There is nothing sweeter than the types of gifts that come from thoughtfully planning your South Florida estate plan.  For example, your will and living trusts are ideal vehicles in properly transferring assets to your children. Not even chocolate bunnies or candied eggs can compete with that.

There is so much to consider in such legacy planning that only a highly experienced and knowledgeable South Florida estate planning attorney can effectively guide you through this complex process. You might have family-owned businesses, retirement plans, and a life insurance policy. What about asset protection from creditor claims, special needs planning, trust administration, Florida probate and financial planning? You are not alone. Help is just a phone call away.

However, once you set up your solid estate plan, assets must be titled into trusts and periodically updated to reflect life changes such as marriage, birth of a new child, or divorce. If you already have one in place but neglected it for a few years, then it is time to resurrect your estate plan and review it with your attorney to account for all necessary changes, both personal and legal.

The best part is that estate planning is kosher and chametz-free. Sitting at the Seder table with the knowledge that you have provided for the future financial needs of you loved ones and ensured that your assets are ultimately distributed as you intend is a satisfying and rewarding feeling. After all, you never know when you will be having that Last Supper with your family. 

Time is never on our side so taking immediate action is a key ingredient to estate planning. Contacting your estate planning attorney not only gives you a peace of mind but also can reduce estate taxes for your family thus leaving them more and less to Uncle Sam.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

So, everyone’s familiar with Kristen Stewart’s new popular movie Snow White and the Huntsman. Like the bloodthirsty queen in her hunt for eternal power, proper estate planning documents can provide you with the best asset protection so you can have power and control from the grave or… glass coffin . Like the queen who seeks Snow White’s heart in order to remain the fairest of them all, there are four key documents that lie at the heart of estate planning.

1. Last Will and Testament- this legal document sets forth how and to whom your assets will be distributed. It sets forth who the appointed personal representative of your estate is, and if you have minor children, who will be their guardians. Without a properly executed Will, your assets may pass through Florida’s laws of intestacy.

2. Durable Power of Attorney- this critical document allows you to nominate a person who will have power to make all non-medical decisions for you in the event you become incapacitated. For example, they can pay your bills, manage your bank accounts, and run your business.

3. Designation of Health Care Surrogate- this document allows you to designate someone to make medical decisions for you in the event you become incapacitated. If you do not designate someone, the court might appoint someone to make the decisions for you. The courts’ choice might be against your wishes and extremely costly.

4. Living Will- This relates to “end of life” decisions. In the event you are in an “end stage condition” or a permanent vegetative state, you can include instructions that let your loved ones and caregivers know whether or not you wish to be kept artificially alive by machines.

Create your fairytale estate plan today by including all these critical documents. It’s a good feeling to know that with a solid estate plan in place you will have your family members well protected. Then, when it is your time to look into the magic mirror of death, you can be sure that you are the fairest of them all.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo will soon be entering parenthood. This is going to be a very exciting yet challenging time for them. They are going to be busy choosing furniture and toys to decorate the baby room. They will also be looking for the right doctor to ensure a smooth delivery process and oversee the physical health of their first child.

What the newly weds should also be doing is carefully selecting the right attorney to ensure the financial health and security of their baby. Estate planning is often overlooked when it comes to planning the arrival of a child. A critical point is to designate a guardian who will raise the child in the event that both Nick and Vanessa die or are rendered incapacitated. With a newborn on the way, it is also important they recheck their life insurance policy, draft a will if they have not done so already, and establish a trust. They should also include an advanced health care directive. By contacting their estate planning attorney and taking advantage of the right legal tools, Nick and Vanessa will be able to shield their assets from potential creditors, preserve their wealth, and minimize estate taxes.

However, you don’t have to attain 98-degree celebrity status to consider estate planning. The key is not how much property you own. Rather, it is all about distributing what you do have the smart way. Right here in South Florida, our legal team can help you distribute your assets in an efficient, secure, and financially advantageous manner. Over 4 million babies are born in the United States each year yet the death rate in Florida is 100 percent. Take care of your little ones by setting up a solid estate plan as soon as possible.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

This Tuesday was notoriously known as Fat Tuesday, otherwise known as Mardi Gras.  Not many people know that Mardi Gras celebrations date back to ancient Roman times with lots of today’s festivities like drinking, feasting, and debauchery.  During the Crusades, this carnival-like festival became known as the “last fling” of indulgence before the 40-day Lenten period of penitence.

Did you know that the first Mardi Gras held in the U.S. was around the mid 1800’s in New Orleans? Today, the city is enlivened with a cascade of parades starting on the Friday before Ash Wednesday. The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold which symbolizes justice, faith, and power, respectively.  Did you know that the King Cakes is the traditional Mardi Gras food? It is an oval cake honoring the three kings in these three colors. It is tradition to place a small plastic baby, symbolizing Baby Jesus into each cake. The person who gets the cake with the baby will have good luck that year.

Plastic babies found in cakes and all this “last fling” of celebrations before the mark of Lent, which is all about Jesus’ death, brings another important subject to mind. Estate planning. It is almost inconceivable that less than half of all Florida residents have an estate plan when everyone knows the death rate has, and will always be 100 percent. Our children are our gifts of life and it is our duty as parents and guardians to plan for their protection in the event we are accidently hit in the head by a Krewe member on a Mardi Gras float that knocks us unconscious…forever.

Don’t make the mistake of leaving your vulnerable little ones with the mess of probate, creditor claims,  and the burden of unnecessary high estate taxes.

The best time to get your estate plan in order is to do it when you are still alive. Our clients create estate plans in justice to their children. They have the power to decide the future of their loved ones and the faith in our team of highly experienced South Florida attorneys to develop the solutions they seek.

Honor the passing of Fat Tuesday by jumping on board our parade float of estate planning!

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

So, the NY Giants defeated the Patriots last night in Super Bowl XLVI becoming champions of the NFL. Eli Manning and the Giants pulled off a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the Patriots 21-17 for their second Super Bowl Victory. The jokes are over. The questions are answered. Eli and his Giants are kings once again.

Football aside, one of the most important life questions might still remain unanswered. When are you going to get your estate plan in place? The natural inclination is to respond, “Oh, I’m never going to die” or “I’m too young to worry about that” or “I’m not a millionaire yet. I will worry about preserving my assets when I become rich.”

The death rate in Florida is 100%.  Shocking, I know. We might feel invincible and immortal at times but the sad truth is, we were born to die. And the best part is we really will never know when. It’s a surprise. When it comes to South Florida estate planning, wealth is not the primary factor to consider when deciding whether to structure a trust-based estate.

Estate planning and asset protection is really all about protecting your loved ones. Do you really want to subject your children, spouse, or family members to unnecessary and avoidable estate taxes? Do you want to let your family drown in a sea of probate perils?

If your answer is NO then call your South Florida Estate Planning attorney today. Don’t pull a Manning and try to score a trust at the last-minute.  Considerable care and planning is necessary for your attorney to be able to tailor the optimal plan to meet your objectives and ensure that your loved ones are protected once you are gone.  Nothing screams touchdown better than a secure and solid estate plan!

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

David Milch, celebrated the premiere of his new television series called ‘Luck’ which aired on January 29, 2012. The screenwriter and producer was first introduced to the sport of horse racing and the art of gambling when he was just a young boy of 6 years in Saratoga Springs, New York. But his father didn’t let his tender age stop all the fun. A deal was struck with a local waiter at the horse track to run Milch’s bets. This led to an unexpected gambling addiction and later to a show about horse races and wagers.

Many us of us don’t realize that every day we are gambling with our lives, and worse yet, our families’ lives. We hardly stop to think about our ticking life clocks, let alone even attempt to face the reality that one day we will all die. After all, the death rate in Florida is 100%. It is unlikely this statistic will budge any time soon. Therefore, it is vital that we all start thinking about our estate plans for the sake of our loved ones before it is too late. It’s a scary thought that only less than half of all Florida residents have one in place. Don’t fall victim to the misconception that you are too young or not wealthy enough to worry about it. You need to worry about it. South Florida estate planning is rarely about the money. It’s about the protection of your loved ones.

Don’t place a dangerous wager on your life or the lives of your loved ones. Not scheduling a free consultation with a highly qualified and experienced South Florida Attorney is like betting a Pick 6. Your chances of winning are impossible. When it comes to life, the key is in the planning process. After all, when was the last time lady luck was by your side?

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

This week is welcomed by the holiday known as Celebration of Life Day.  Every January, it is a day to take the time to honor children and grandchildren in America. Each life is held to be a precious gift. However, sometimes we are too busy existing in life that we forget to actually live it, let alone stop to appreciate the people we love most. Hardly do we ever contemplate life after death and rarely do we stop to consider what will happen to our children after we pass away.  There can be no better way to show love and honor to our progeny than to protect them from future legal distress and financial insecurity after we are gone. Ensuring a brighter future for our children and grandchildren starts with estate planning and asset protection. The attorneys at Wild Felice & Partners are well-equipped with the necessary tools, legal knowledge, and expertise of South Florida estate planning strategies and asset structuring to ensure the financial stability of society’s most vulnerable individuals in order to guarantee the quality of life they deserve. Whether it’s a drafting a will or forming a trust, there are countless benefits to strategic estate planning. You can protect your children and grandchildren from potential lawsuits and creditor claims to your family life savings. You can protect your children against inadequate insurance coverage. You can eliminate the need for probate and reduce the burden of estate taxes. It is difficult to think of a better way to celebrate the life of your offspring and acknowledge them as precious gifts of life than to ensure their financial protection and shield them from unnecessary legal hassles after we are gone. In return, our children will be honoring us …on Remembrance of Death Day.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

I am trying to come up with a topic related to South Florida estate planning and asset protection as I watch this South Carolina Republican debate and the candidates are currently stuck on the topic of the right to life and debating which of them are pro life.  If anyone took a look at what’s going on with the estate tax and how difficult and costly the South Florida probate process is, theyd surely be pro life.  With a 55 percent estate tax, there’s no way a person would be pro death.

I hope that was what they were talking about.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

The South Florida estate planning and wealth protection firm of Wild Felice & Partners, PA is proud to announce that managing partner Michael D. Wild has recently received an “AV® Preeminent Rating” by Martindale Hubbell.

An AV® certification rating is the highest rating provided by Martindale-Hubbell – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him/her at the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability, based on legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, jud…gment, communication ability, and legal experience.

We thank everyone who rated Michael with such a high distinction and we especially thank all of our clients and referral sources for the continued trust they place in Michael and in our firm for something as important as estate planning and asset protection.

AV Preeminent (4.5-5.0)- AV Preeminent is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?

Tim Tebow just lead the Denver Broncos past the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of this year’s NFL playoffs when very few Floridians thought that he could.  Just like most Florida residents thought the Steelers would win, most residents of South Florida believe that they will never die.  This must be the case because the percentage of people in South Florida with trust based estate plans already in place is very low.  Furthermore, when speaking about estate planning, most people will ask what is going to happen “if” they die.  Then I have to break it to them that the death rate in Florida is 100 percent.  Death is a certainty; whether you are prepared for it is able to be controlled.  Tim Tebow always does the right thing so I am sure that he has a living trust as well as the other Florida estate planning docments that make up the foundational Trust-based estate plan.  Do you?

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world.  Are you protected?