At the end of the classic movie Gran Torino, there is a reading of Walt Kowalski’s will, played by Clint Eastwood. He leaves his family shocked when they realize whom he left his house and Ford Gran Torino to. But wouldn’t it be cool to get your hands on the infamous .30 M-1 caliber semi-automatic shoulder rifle or the .45 caliber pistol that he used to intimidate and put those nasty gang members back in their place? Too bad no one mentioned the Gun Trust to Mr. Kowalski.

Many people collect guns for target shooting, hunting, and even for self-defense. Later, they would like to pass them down to their heirs so they can also enjoy such recreational activities or feel safe with an added layer of protection. This is all done through a Gun Trust. This is a special purpose revocable living trust which holds only firearms. Regulations can get complicated though. Considerations involve where the beneficiary lives, the laws of that state, the laws of the state where the items are located, and the eligibility of the beneficiary to be in possession of a weapon. Gun Trusts are created primarily for NFA restricted firearms such as silencers, short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and machine guns.  A state may further restrict regulations.  However, creating this trust can save a lot of time.  A person does not have to worry about obtaining approval from the local Chief Law Enforcement Officer. Also, detailed instructions can be provided regarding the transfer of a gun. The trust must be properly drafted due to the complexities of federal and state law. Improper administration of regulated firearms can result in a criminal conviction and hefty fines.

So whether you’re passing on your highly coveted gun collection to your heirs or that precious gold necklace heirloom Aunt Edna could never stop talking about, it’s important to have a qualified attorney with the necessary experience to effectively ensure the correct disposition of your assets.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firmof Wild Felice & Pardo, 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?

Rosh Hashanah marks the new year of the Jewish calendar and is also called the Day of Remembrance. This is a time where past deeds are remembered and forgiveness sought. As South Florida families gather around merrily in light of celebrating this special holiday and enjoying traditional meals together, the sense of love and unity inspires deep appreciation for each other. As family members sink their teeth into the apples dipped in honey that symbolize a sweet new year filled with abundance and good health, surely the delightful taste inspires gratitude to be alive at the present moment. But what about thoughts of the future?

A really sweet way to start off the new year would be to think about how to protect loved ones. There is no better time than beginning the new year with all your assets in order to ensure the financial security of your family. What a great way to adopt this continuity of life approach to enable your family members to continue celebrating each new year with good blessings and gather together to honor tradition. Through proper estate planning and asset protection, it’s a relief to know that your family will be extricated from the legal knots that can result from inadequate or worse yet, lack of such future planning. Whether it be through a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust or a Last Will & Testament, there are various options to guarantee that your family is in good, safe hands. As you welcome this new year with sweetness and abundance, think of your loved ones and how you can make sure they continue to warmly embrace each new year with deep reflections, love, hope, and positivity.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firmof Wild Felice & Pardo, 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?

Over the next three weeks, South Florida estate planning attorney Michael Wild will be the guest speaker at the following presentations:

September 7

Michael Wild will be speaking to a group of 50 accountants at SunLife stadium at the FICPA’s quarterly meeting.  The presentation will revolve around foundational trust-based estate planning and the more common estate planning mistakes.

September 14

Michael Wild will be speaking to a group of 60 attorneys, CPAs and financial advisors at Broward College about the fundamentals of quality estate planning and asset protection techniques.  The presentation will be followed by a happy hour at YOLO sponsored by Mr. Wild.

September 21

Michael Wild will be the guest speaker at the Planned Giving Council’s monthly breakfast meeting.  The topic of discussion will be “Marketing to the Selfish Donor” and Mr. Wild will be providing a room full of non-profit organizations with key marketing and fundraising tips.  The meeting will be held at the Tower Club.

For more information, or to attend any of the above presentations, please contact Michael Wild at mwild@wfplaw.com and for more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Pardo, 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?

With the tragic death of singer Amy Winehouse being the trending topic right now on news outlets and social networking platforms, atleast one estate attorney could not help but wonder whether the pop-star’s estate plan was in order.  After some research, it appears that Winehouse refused to be another high-profile cautionary tale of estate planning.  Reports indicate that she left her estate in terrific order with all major assets protected and interest set to be distributed to where she so desired.

British law seemingly favors spouses and ex-spouses when it comes to estate inheritance after ones death.  Winehouse did not wish for her assets to go to her ex-spouse, however, who is currently incarcerated.  Therefore, Winehouse planned accordingly by creating a specific will that redirected her estimated 16.4 million dollar estate to her parents and brother.

While this is really seeing the silver lining of such a sad story, that positive aspect is one that always goes appreciated by a decedent’s family and loved ones as well as estate attorneys worldwide.  It is always such a pleasure to hear celebrity success stories of estate planning, such as Winehouse’s, because too often it is the horror story that gets such sensational media exposure.  Too often celebrities leave their estate a mess and, as a result, the world hears about how certain assets ended up in the wrong hands, how a very specific loved one received no inheritance due to statutory law, or how millions of dollars in interest in the estate were lost due to estate taxes and probate administration.

No matter how big or small your estate is there are things you can do to protect your assets and assure that your family and loved ones are taken care of.  Some of the basics of a good estate plan include setting up a will, a living trust, and a power of attorney. A will gives you the opportunity to specify exactly who receives what assets.  A trust can be a smart way to avoid high estate tax charges by slowly transferring funds to intended inheritors reducing the overall value of your estate.  And a power of attorney allows you to appoint a trusted family member to handle your finances after you die.

These are some basic estate planning steps that every person should take whether a pop-star sensation or not.  It is irresponsible to go through life without an estate plan.  An ill planned estate can leave loved ones wanting and heartbroken more so than they would feel during a natural grieving process.  Call a reputable estate attorney now and set up an estate plan that is right for you.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Pardo, 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 lockout has ended and the NFL is back!  Will you live long enough to see the 2011 season kick off?

Miracles happen all the time in the NFL in the form of comebacks.  And by comeback, we’re not talking about Brett Favre’s decision to come out of retirement after every offseason.

The greatest post-season comeback in NFL history was on January 3^rd 1993 when the Buffalo Bills defeated the Houston Oilers, 41-38, in overtime of an AFC playoff game.  With 13:19 left in the third quarter, quarterback Frank Reich led the Bills to 5 TD’s in 20 ½ minutes to force an overtime.  The Bills then won the game in overtime on a field goal.

Another great NFL comeback was the ultimate “David vs. Goliath” win on February 3^rd 2008 during Super Bowl XLII when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots, 17-14, voiding them of their “Perfect 19-0 Season.”   Eli Manning led the Giants on a game winning drive that included the timeless “Catch-42,” a miraculous gravity defying catch over midfield, in which David Tyree completed the catch by pressing the ball against the back of his helmet.

And who can forget the “Comeback King,” Joe Montana.  Montana recorded 31 fourth-quarter comebacks during his NFL Career. One of his 31 comebacks came during a Super Bowl.  But his most impressive comeback had to of been on September 24^th 1989 when the 49ers defeated the Eagles, 38-28.  Montana completed 11 of 12 passes for 227 yards and 4 TD’s in the fourth quarter.

These comebacks prove that no lead is ever safe in the NFL, and no win is guaranteed.  Miracles happen all the time in professional football.  Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee your future.  You could die before the 2011 season finally kicks off, or tomorrow, or today even.  But what we can guarantee is the future of your estate.  With a proper estate plan in place, your assets can be well protected and your future can be as guaranteed as when the quarterback takes a knee to run down the last few seconds of the game.  Call a qualified estate attorney now to form an estate plan that is right for you and your family.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Pardo, 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?

Over the weekend, the US Women’s Soccer team suffered a devastating overtime shootout loss in the World Cup to the Japanese Women’s team.  Despite the score, the US seemingly dominated the entire game, but Japan was able to sneak in a last second goal during regulation to tie the game 2-2 and force a shootout.  In overtime, the US team missed a few essential shots and one of the stars of the team, goalkeeper Hope Solo, could not make the big saves to bail out the US team.  In the end, it was a disappointing loss, especially after such a dramatic and unexpected victory of the heavily favored team Brasil early in the tournament.  Congratulations to the Japanese Women’s team on their World Cup.

When the game of life is on the line and the final shootout you are facing is literally life and death, put in an estate attorney from Wild Felice and Pardo to be your goalkeeper.  We have the instincts and quick reflexes to deflect any difficult shot that life takes to assure your assets are protected. Call us, and start protecting your most precious goal – your family estate.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Pardo, 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?