Did you know that today, residents are celebrating Texas Independence Day? Texas remained a republic until being annexed by the United States in 1845 to gain independence from Mexico. William B. Travis is remembered today for signing one of his famous Alamo letters with the words “Victory or Death” while besieged by the Mexican army in San Antonio de Bexar.  This letter is universally regarded as one of the most heroic letters ever written while under impending death.  He vowed never to surrender or retreat.

Travis’ story is inspiring; especially when it comes to South Florida estate planning. However, you don’t have to choose between victory and death. Here in Florida, you can have both. If you die the right way, you can die like a hero to your family. It all starts with fighting for their financial protection and security by shielding your hard-earned family savings and investments from potential lawsuits and creditor claims. You can overcome the battle against inadequate or unavailable insurance coverage. You can soldier on until you can be sure your loved ones are protected against the burden of probate and estate taxes.

Finally, you can win the financial war by arming yourself and your family with the necessary tools only a highly qualified and experienced estate-planning attorney can equip you with. You can save your family from splitting headaches and emotional pain by harnessing the power of living trusts. The two main subcategories are “revocable” and “irrevocable” trusts. Learn about the benefits by contacting your South Florida attorney today.

But don’t stop there! You need to account for crucial supplementary documents as well.  It’s important to understand that a will is not enough. Have you designated a durable power of attorney? Have you assigned a health care surrogate? Do you have a living will in place? These are just few of a myriad of questions that need to be considered.

You can make your mark in history like Travis did. But, for you it will be more personal and significant to the people closest to you.  Correctly leaving behind your legacy to the people that matter most to you ensures their ultimate protection.  This is the kind of glory worth basking in. But you can’t choose a day on the calendar to create your estate plan. You have to do it as soon as possible. Call 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?

Simple. They make it look good.

The movie, “The Descendants” was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars this weekend. One thing is for sure, George Clooney, who plays King, a wealthy trial lawyer, makes you want to learn more about estate planning. “The Descendants” is packed with a medley of complicated issues involving wills and trusts.

The movie sheds some light on the reality and complexities of estate planning. For example, end-of-life care becomes an issue in the film when King’s wife lies in a coma. That’s why it is critical to draft a living will. This legal document allows you to state whether you want your life to be artificially prolonged or whether you prefer to die naturally. If you do not have a validly executed living will in the state of Florida, you will be kept alive artificially irrespective of your wishes or the costs to your family.

There is also the issue of joint ownership that is addressed in the film. King and his cousins are left valuable Hawaiian real estate in a trust that is about to expire. When a trust designates land to multiple people, the threat of disagreement looms in the horizon. Did you know that just one owner might prevent the sale of the property? Don’t let such a legal nightmare burden your family. A highly skilled South Florida estate planning attorney will counsel you on more effective strategies in the transfer of property.

Other issues that arise are the legal limits of how long a trust can last, the special challenges of long-term trusts, and the designation of trustees. Rumor has it that the movie director even consulted an expert attorney in order to get the facts correct for viewership.

Life is not a movie. The complexities and dire consequences of improper estate planning are very real. The best way to avoid disastrous results is to start now. It is crucial to periodically review your estate plan and make necessary changes. If there is something of utmost value that can be taken away from the Oscars, it’s the necessity and exigency of estate planning. Learn from George Clooney. Consult your South Florida attorney 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?

Presidents Day was originally celebrated as George Washington’s Birthday and was the first federal holiday honoring an American citizen. Today Lincoln’s birthday is recognized as well. America is truly the greatest country.  No other enjoys the same freedoms as we do. However, with those freedoms comes a great deal of responsibility. We each take part in a critical election process that gives us a voice when it comes to the future of our beloved country. Many of us take great efforts in securing the best interests for our Nation’s future.

However, many of us don’t take this approach when it comes to the future of smaller sovereign units within our country- our families. One way to ensure the future of our beloved family members is to avoid the most common estate planning mistakes and correct any existing misconceptions.

Although there is so much to love about America, her estate plan is not one of them. If you do not take the initiative in setting up your own, your property will be distributed according to the laws of the state in which you live. This can prove disastrous to the family members you leave behind. Instead of your wishes being fulfill, the judge will have to decide whom your property goes to.

If you do have some kind of estate planning tool, most likely it is a will. A common misconception is that a will alone is enough. Probate will be the inevitable result. It is a time-consuming, complex, and costly process that can have dire results. A trust-based plan ensures the protection of your assets and full distribution according to your intent.

Finally another mistake people make is relying on a joint tenancy. Almost everyone own property and bank accounts in joint tenancy. However, there can be legal nightmares. A well-seasoned South Florida estate-planning attorney can counsel you on better options in order to ensure ultimate protection.

It’s important to rely on the right attorney to help you structure a plan so that your family members can enjoy freedom from endless and emotionally draining courtroom proceedings. You will ensure their peace of mind and reduce the burden of estate taxes. When it comes to the future of our families, nothing can be more important than securing their best interests with a 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?

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?