5 Things to Know When You Hire an Estate Planning Attorney

Once you’ve decided that it’s time to hire an attorney who specializes in estate planning, how do you go about doing so? It can be challenging to know where to start! “Where should I look? What questions should I ask initially? How do I know when I’ve found the right attorney for my legal needs?” […]Continue reading

Eight Major Estate Planning Mistakes Most People Make

Take care to avoid these eight (8) major estate planning mistakes. 1. Relying on the Government’s “Estate Plan” One of the biggest mistakes people make in estate planning is to not have an estate plan in place at all. This puts families in the position of being subject to government rules and regulations about all […]Continue reading

Avoid Family Feuds When Distributing Assets

Many people have wills drafted to include bank accounts, stocks, and other probate assets. But they overlook planning for personal possessions. Bitter disputes can erupt over items that have more sentimental value than monetary worth, including furniture, photographs, jewelry, and artwork. This article provides answers to commonly asked questions about how estate assets are distributed, […]Continue reading

DAMNED IF YOU DO; DAMNED IF YOU DON’T (More Trouble with IRAs in Community Property States)

Isaac and Dorothy Boggs were happily married with three sons and resided in Louisiana. When Dorothy became ill and suddenly died in 1979, the family was grief stricken. Isaac, who was a career businessman, mustered up the strength to move on and eventually married Sandra Boggs. Isaac retired from his long and fruitful career in […]Continue reading

Picking an Executor: Four Questions to Ask

When considering who should serve as the executor of your estate, you may automatically think of a certain relative or close friend. But think carefully. Make sure that you pick the most competent person possible. Being an executor can be a tough, time-consuming job. In some families, the decision of who to pick as an […]Continue reading

How Much Does Probate Cost in Louisiana and How Long Does It Take?

SCHEDULE NOW (FREE 15-Minute Succession / Probate Consultation) What is Probate? A probate is simply the process of transferring property from the estate of a deceased person to the heirs or legatees of the decedent. A probate is necessary if a person dies testate (with a will) or intestate (without a will), or fails to [...]Continue reading

THIRD CIRCUIT ISSUES WARNING ABOUT COMPUTER-GENERATED WILLS AND TESTAMENTS

THIRD CIRCUIT ISSUES WARNING ABOUT COMPUTER-GENERATED WILLS AND TESTAMENTS BY THEUS LAW OFFICES No one wants to pay more than necessary for essential estate planning documents, such as a last will and testament or power of attorney. These documents can be attained easily at retail office supply outlets or online through legal storefronts like legalzoom.com for [...]Continue reading

REMEDY FOR ABUSE OF POWER OF ATTORNEY IN LOUISIANA

“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” Jonathan Swift Although there are no absolute guarantees that long term financial plans will be carried out exactly as directed, a new law in Louisiana now provides much-needed protection to family members, in the event that they fall victim to financial abuse […]Continue reading

VICTIM OR THE CRIME (An Age Old Story of Undue Influence)

“There are various attributes of life – such as… awareness, growth, autonomy, will. It is possible to kill or attempt to kill one of these attributes without actually destroying the body. Thus, we may “break” a horse or even a child without harming a hair.” M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie BORN TO […]Continue reading

THE OSTRICH APPROACH (Execute or Update Your Will Before It’s Too Late)

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” Benjamin Franklin In a fictional survey, four out of five people indicated they would rather have a tooth drilled without anesthesia than to read their own last will and testament. Four out of five dentists approved the survey. The point being is that a […]Continue reading

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