Recently, Facebook has been receiving more attention than usual. There was a lot of reaction following the company’s IPO, its stock going public, and of course Mark Zuckerberg’s surprise marriage to Priscilla Chan.

So what does Facebook have to do with South Florida Estate Planning? More than you think.

Many of us are avid users of Facebook and we realize that our daily lives revolve around social media and profiles including Twitter, Flickr, and LinkedIn. However, most of us fail to consider what will happen to the online content and how our identities will be handled after we die. There’s more to it than that.

The Internet has become our new reality. Every day we are glued to our computer screens checking our multiple email accounts and paying our bills online. Business transactions have virtually gone paperless. We rely on our digital assets such as Netflix, Pandora, iTunes and anything else that requires a monthly fee.

What’s most interesting is that the U.S. government strongly suggests making a social media will. Like with a traditional will, an online personal representative will need to be appointed to close all your email addresses and social media profiles such as Facebook. You may decide to keep your social media profiles for friends and family as a memorial profile after you die.

Your digital assets must be accounted for in order to ensure proper distribution upon death. Because almost everything is done online, don’t forget to consider any online data you may be in possession of such as online bank accounts, investment accounts, bill paying accounts, and e-books. These relevant accounts along with username and passwords should be stored in your estate planning documents.

We can’t take for granted what’s consistently in front of our eyes. Our digital assets are just as important as any other assets owned and should be part of your estate plan.

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?

One year ago today, Randy Savage (more affectionately known as the WWF’s “Macho Man”) died of a sudden, massive heart attack while driving with his wife. He was only 58 years old. The only drugs found in his system were a prescription painkiller and a small amount of alcohol. Savage had never been treated for heart problems and there was no evidence he knew of any heart condition.

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Some men (and women) think that they are too Macho to worry about estate planning. No matter how young, fit or safe you believe that you are, the only certainty is that you will die. The only control we have is whether or not our Will, Trust and other estate planning documents are in place at the time of our death.

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?

The 5th of May is finally upon us and although Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico, it is the most celebrated holiday of Mexican culture in the U.S. Even though 1 in 4 South Floridians are Hispanic, everyone will probably be enjoying a little bit of salsa, margaritas, and cheesy enchiladas.

Here’s some more food for thought to add to your fiesta menu- estate planning.

Unfortunately, estate planning rarely gets the attention it deserves. One day we are all going to die and it is important to determine what will subsequently happen to all the assets that we own.

First of all, every South Floridian should have a will. This is especially true if you are married and have minor children. Your will not only stipulates the distribution of all your assets but also appoints a trusted guardian to look after your little ones when you pass away.

What will happen if you become seriously injured or incapacitated? You need a living will and medical directives to express your wishes to stay on life support or end all artificial means of living.

You can spice up your plan by reducing estate taxes, insulating your assets from creditor claims, and ensuring smooth transfer of property through trust formation and administration.

Estate planning is a complex field of law. It is important to contact a highly skilled South Florida estate planning attorney. You will learn about the necessary tools and strategic ways in protecting your assets you probably never thought possible. Don’t be surprised if your reaction is something like “Holy Guacamole! I should have done this sooner!”

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?

Today is Emancipation Day which is a holiday observed in Washington D.C. that marks the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act, which Abraham Lincoln signed back in 1862. The Act had to do with the emancipation of slaves of African origin. Thanks to Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation soon followed.

However, today there is another form of emancipation we need to observe. It has less to do with “political emancipation” and more to do with “financial emancipation.” A properly designed South Florida asset protection plan will accomplish many important objectives. You will be able to free your loved ones from the burdens of heavy taxation by reducing your estate tax. You can eliminate probate. You may be able to protect your family savings and investments from lawsuits and claims.

With a solid South Florida estate plan drafted by your qualified South Florida estate planning attorney, you can protect against inadequate or unavailable insurance coverage. You should consider insulating your rental properties to reduce your exposure to potential lawsuits. You may also be able to protect your business assets and accounts receivable from potential claims.

There is so much you can do to help your family enjoy financial freedom when you are gone. Learn about proper will drafting, trust administration, and the probate process in order to have your intentions fully carried out and your family fully protected.

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?

Today, President Barack Obama kicked off the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with First Lady Michelle. Youngsters had a blast participating in the traditional egg-rolling races, obstacle courses, as well as other fun-filled sports and crafts. While egg hunts may be fun on the South Lawn, what your kids will not have fun doing is hunting for important estate planning documents once you are gone.

For those in South Florida who are not interested in playing hide and seek, it’s important to have original estate planning documents such as your will, stored in a safe and accessible place. Somewhere in your home or office that is protected from fire, floods, and South Florida hurricanes is suitable. A personal safe is commonly used; however, be sure to entrust the right person with the location of the safe and combination to the lock.

However, if you plan on using a safe deposit box, you might want to consider retitling it into the name of your Revocable Living Trust if the box is titled in your name only. This way, your successor trustee will be able to gain immediate access to your box without having to obtain a court order to open it. You can also include a trusted joint owner to the title to carry out your estate planning wishes.

Finally, your South Florida estate planning attorney should retain signed copies of all your estate planning documents. In the event your original documents are accidently destroyed, the documents can be recreated and everything can be resigned. This will destroy the presumption that you intended to destroy the documents if the originals cannot be found at the time of your death.

What might work on the South Lawn might not work in South Florida. Save your loved ones the trouble of hunting down your original legal documents and contact your South Florida estate planning attorney for more information today!

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 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?