On Friday, July 8^th 2011, NASA launched its final space shuttle, Atlantis, into orbit from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL., closing the book on a 30 year stint of space travel.  The purpose of this final mission was to bring a care package of parts and supplies to an International Space Station.  The mission was Atlantis’s 33^rd flight and the 135^th shuttle launch of NASA.

NASA is expected to resume shuttle orbit sometime in the future, but not for many years from now.  The purpose of the stoppage is to save money that would have been spent on launches into the earth’s orbit to instead spend on the research and development of shuttles that would allow the US to explore the planet Mars and its moons.  This sort of advancement in space travel is expected to take many years.  As of right now, NASA has projected into the mid-2030’s as a tentative timetable for Mars exploration.

Maybe we will discover life outside of planet earth.  “The Red Planet” seems like a good place to start looking.  Maybe one-day we will find and say with certainty that we are not alone in this universe.  Who knows what aliens could look like?  It seems like the most common portrayal of aliens always imagines them with guitar pic shaped heads and large black eyes.  I, personally, imagine they would look like “E.T.” from the 1980’s movie.

This hold on NASA space travel will allow the US and the rest of the world to plan for the further exploration of the unlimited and unknown in space.  NASA is taking the proper steps to plan for the future and for the unknown in space.  Like NASA, you too should plan for your future and for the unknown in life.  The best way to do this is by setting up a customized estate plan right for you.

E.T. says, “Phone home.” We say, “Phone a qualified estate attorney.”

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?

Everyone can agree that the Declaration of Independence was an important document to sign. Without it, we could not benefit from the sacrifices our forefathers made to secure our welfare and freedom. Much in the same way, you make sacrifices and work hard throughout your life. It is crucial for your family’s future and well being that you establish and sign your Estate Planning documents. You probably won’t be around for 235 years, but if you plan well your legacy will.

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?

After a series of defeats in recent years, the movement to legalize same-sex marriage is hoping that its unexpected victory in New York will revive efforts to legalize gay marriage around the nation. The victory on Friday in New York, arguably the nation’s economic and cultural capital, carries enormous symbolic importance for the same-sex-marriage movement. New York is now the sixth and largest state in the country where gay couples will be able to wed legally. In late July, when the New York’s law goes into effect, there will be twice as many  Americans in jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is permitted as there are today.

However, Florida’s outlook for same sex marriage is grim. After the 2008 amendment to the Florida Constitution, both same-sex marriage and civil union have been constitutionally banned in Florida.

Article 1 Section 27 of the Florida Constitution states:

“Marriage defined. Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

Because the law in Florida considers that there is no formal relationship between members of the same sex and unmarried couples, Estate Planning is particularly important. Same sex Couples in Florida have tools at their disposal to plan for the future, among these are Domestic Partnership Agreements. It is equally important to specify your wishes for medical care and elect your healthcare surrogate. Without these documents the hospital must keep you alive by any means necessary, no matter the cost or true desire. Provide your loved ones as much protection as possible by establishing your estate plan.

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.

Too often we use the excuse that “there aren’t enough hours in the day” when we are approached with chores that we know are important but require us to stop our daily routines long enough to take care of them.  One of the most important chores that you can ever check off of your To Do List is to have your estate plan drafted.  If you already have an estate plan, it is equally important to have it reviewed every 3 to 5 years with an estate planning attorney to account for changes in law, changes in tax and changes in your family.

Today is June 21.  June 21 is also known as the Summer Solstice; the longest day of the year.  My challenge to you is to use the extra time we receive today (and yes, I know we still only get 24 hours but work with me on this) to make an appointment with an estate planning attorney and get your estate plan in place and up to date before your days get shorter and shorter.

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?

While NBA analysts, sports experts, newspaper columnists, and even your neighbor can make predictions on what is going to happen next, the truth is that the future is unknown for even the most talented of NBA teams.  Just like these NBA teams, our future is unknown. The morbid reality is that no one knows when they will die.  You can’t predict your future so it’s best to be prepared for it … by properly planning your estate to assure that your assets are protected.

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?

June is a month with a lot of important holidays.  The longest day of the year is in the month of June but I’m not using that fact to point out that
life is short and estate planning can’t wait. June also gives us Father’s Day but I’m not going to ask you if your father has his estate plan in order or even if you’ve done your part as a father or mother to assure that your children are protected. June is Gay Pride Month but the theme of this newsletter is not protecting your partner or avoiding will contests in a state that doesn’t recognize same sex partnerships.  Instead, I’d like to point out that I was born on June 22, which turns out to be National Chocolate Eclair Day.

I find it very upsetting that Donald Duck Day (June 9) is sandwiched between Name Your Poison Day and Iced Tea Day.  If you are planning on celebrating Insurance Awareness Day on June 28, be certain that all of your insurance is placed in an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust.  Whatever holidays you celebrate, please remember to take some time and assure that your family is taken care of with some foundational estate planning.

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?