Throughout the world Shamrocks are a symbol of all things Irish. But did you know they are also symbols of wealth, financial growth, and bling bling?

In Ireland cows depended upon the shamrock (a type of clover) for food. As the clovers grew thick on Irish farms, farmers knew it meant a prosperous winter lay ahead. The proverbial Irish saying “in the clover” equates to Florida’s version of “having deep pockets.”

Regardless of the size of your plot of land this Saint Patrick’s Day, having your South Florida estate planning attorney review your asset protection goals is beneficial to everyone. Estate planning is about providing for those family and friends left behind, which is why we first ask our clients what their wealth transfer and asset protection goals are and then explain how we can accomplish these dreams together. If you don’t protect your hard earned assets now, there may not necessarily be a “pot O gold” awaiting your loved ones at the end of your path.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and asset protection techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world. Are you protected?SM

The Nike “Just Do It” campaign allowed the company to increase their share of the sneaker business from 18% to 43% between the years 1988 and 1998. There must be something to it…

People tend to not like dealing with estate planning because they believe that it is an acknowledgment of their mortality, so they put it off. But lack of action is not smart. Estate planning is a process involving the counsel of professional advisors who are familiar with your goals and concerns, your assets and how they are owned, and your family structure. It can involve the services of a variety of professionals, including your lawyer, accountant, financial planner, life insurance advisor, banker and broker. Estate planning covers the transfer of property at death as well as a variety of other personal matters and may or may not involve tax planning. The core documents most often associated with this process are your will and your trust.

At Wild, Felice & Partners, P.A. we take great pride in our ability to successfully cater to the needs of all Floridians. Whether you are a highly successful and high net worth individual or you are still working hard on creating your nest egg, we can help you accomplish your goals. We assist our clients in determining how best to structure their holdings, as well as assisting in the disposing of such assets during and after their lifetime. Our attorneys focus primarily on minimizing a variety of estate related taxes, while simultaneously protecting assets from third party creditors.

Our South Florida firm routinely utilizes a variety of estate planning tools, including Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Surrogates, Funding Techniques, and more. In addition, we may advise for the formation and funding of a family limited partnership which provides, among other things, asset protection, a positive method of control and a long term plan for the accumulation of wealth that will remain outside of one’s taxable estate. By utilizing the estate planning techniques that we have perfected, we may be able to protect your family from unnecessary hassles and save them tens of thousands of dollars.

Take a cue from Nike: “JUST DO IT.”

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 to schedule your free consultation. It’s a Wild world. Are you protected?SM

In the perfect land of estate planning, the SAG Award for outstanding cast would be presented to the talent behind the fictional production of “The Spouse’s Share.” Ben Affleck and ‘Argo’ would have nothing on the South Florida estate planning attorney and the client behind the making of a Last Will and Testament. The client’s moment to shine occurs when he or she takes the time to discuss with a lawyer how his or her assets should be distributed to the surviving spouse upon death.

This golden opportunity is lost forever when this type of critical planning escapes one’s attention.

Do you know what happens in Florida if you are married but die without a will?

Fla. Stat. §732.102 governs the surviving spouse’s share of the intestate estate.

1. If you die without any surviving descendants, your entire intestate estate will go to your spouse. This does not typically include non-probate assets.

2. If you die with surviving descendants, all of whom are also descendants of the surviving spouse and the spouse has no other descendants, then he or she again receives the entire intestate estate.

3. On the other hand, if you have children from a previous relationship that are not lineal descendants of the surviving spouse, then he or she only gets half of your estate.

4. If the surviving spouse has children from a previous relationship that are not yours but you have one or more children together, then again he or she only gets half.

The Academy Award of all estate planning begins with a Last Will and Testament.

If you don’t ‘act’ now with respect to your assets, there can be some unexpected twists and turns in the story line of your legacy that you might not like. What if you would like your spouse to receive more or less of your fortune?  To avoid any unintended and unhappy endings, make the call to your estate planning attorney today for proper direction.

Lights, Camera, Action… you have a will to draft.

For more information on successful Florida asset protection techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm ofWild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 to schedule your free consultation. It’s a Wild world. Are you protected?SM

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under G-d, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Thank you to all who have served, and are serving! You gave, and continue to give, every day to ensure our freedom—and to you, we are forever grateful!

On June 6, 2012, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced legislation that will restrict eligibility for veteran’s benefits used to assist in funding for home health care, assisted living and nursing home expenses. The proposed bill would require that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs look back 36-months for any uncompensated transfers that a veteran, their spouse or child may have made. Today, there is no look-back period. A veteran, their spouse or child with excess assets can qualify for veteran’s benefits by making transfers to a properly drafted irrevocable gift trust.

If the proposed legislation were to pass, the bill would take effect one year after enactment, and apply to pensions applied for or redeterminations after that date. The bill will disqualify a veteran, their spouse or child who has made transfers to a properly drafted irrevocable gift trust, within the 36-month look-back period, from receiving benefits for a period of time depending on the amount that was transferred.

The percentage is astounding. Less than half of all Florida residents, including active duty and veteran members, have an estate plan in place. Yet, the death rate in Florida has held steady at 100 percent. As an active duty or veteran member, you have and continue to do so much for this country. Please do not fall prey to this look-back period. Who knows if or when the proposed veteran’s benefits “36-month Look-Back-Period” legislation will pass. You have taken the honorable oaths of enlistment and office. Allow a competent and qualified estate planning attorney the opportunity to give you their oath to protect what you so rightfully deserve.

For more information on successful Florida estate planning, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at (954) 944-2855 to schedule your free consultation. While our South Florida estate planning attorneys have the expertise in tax planning, as well as the designations of LL.M. and CPA that provide for the highest level of professional service, our firm aims to shed the tax attorney paradigm that estate planners are often pigeon-holed with and focus instead on the dynamic relationships between our clients and their loved ones.
Estate planning is about those friends and family left behind, which is why we first ask our clients what their wealth transfer and asset protection goals are and then explain how we can accomplish those goals together.

It’s a Wild world. Are you protected?SM

Astrue v. Capato, although a very unusual recent case, exemplifies the importance of creating a precisely worded, up to date estate plan that takes into account all possible life contingencies. This case is especially important if you do not want to unintentionally disinherit your children.

Florida resident Robert Capato and his wife Karen decided to freeze his sperm upon his diagnosis of esophageal cancer and upon learning that treatment could render him sterile. Following Robert’s death, Karen underwent in-vitro fertilization while living in Florida using his stored sperm. She then moved to New Jersey and gave birth to twins.

The problem was that Robert’s will, signed in Florida, failed to mention any children who might be born subsequent to his death. Karen, the child she conceived with Robert while he was alive, and his children from a prior marriage were the only named beneficiaries. According to Florida law, children conceived after a parent’s death cannot inherit from that parent, unless that are referred to in his or her Will.

When Karen claimed Social Security Survivor Benefits for the twins; her application was denied because Robert was already dead when the twins were conceived. The U.S. Supreme Court became involved ruling that Florida laws of intestacy applied because the children were conceived in Florida and therefore, the twins were not eligible for government benefits.

You can avoid such dire consequences by taking action now. All it takes is one simple phone call to your South Florida estate-planning attorney to avoid putting your loved ones through such grief and turmoil.

If you have family, friends or even a charitable intent, the absence of an estate plan is inexcusable. 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?

It’s not surprising that celebrity marriages melt faster than a stick of butter in a hot frying pan. So, it came as no shock after Katy Perry and Russell Brand recently called it quits. During their short marriage she was filming her movie “Part Of Me” where a camera crew accompanied her on world tours and filmed private moments with Russell.

Her ex-husband is now asking her to edit his scenes out but his requests have fallen on deaf ears. Apparently the footage reveals a not so pleasant Russell that could tarnish his public image. Maybe this is a form of retaliation on Katy’s part or maybe a healing process in letting the whole world see the real Mr. Brand.

However, the best remedial measures she can take after a painful divorce is to protect her assets. One commonly overlooked area of estate planning after a considerable life change such as a divorce, is updating one’s beneficiary designation forms. If Katy has designated Russell as the beneficiary of any life insurance policies she may have taken out or under any saving and investment plans, she should remove him. Otherwise, in the event she turn from “Hot” to permanently “Cold” with no more “Last Friday Night” excursions to sing about, the funds will be transferred to Russell’s estate. Now, that could really put a dent to an already broken heart.

It’s important to talk to your South Florida estate planning attorney on how to modify your estate plan so that your “intended” beneficiaries are accounted for so that you do not mistakenly disinherit them.

If you have family, friends or even a charitable intent, the absence of an estate plan is inexcusable. 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?