Baton Rouge Estate Planning Lawyer

Planning for the future of your estate and your family is the most important thing you can do now to provide your loved ones with peace of mind and protect your legacy. The first step is to understand your rights and options via a Baton Rouge estate planning lawyer.

At The Baringer Law Firm, L.L.C., in Baton Rouge, we offer personalized estate planning services to individuals, couples and families throughout Louisiana. We can assist you with all of your estate planning-related needs, such as drafting a will or trust, planning for the estate tax and ensuring a smooth transition of your property and assets to your loved ones. We also provide comprehensive probate services, including probate administration and litigation.

It is never too early to begin planning for your estate, especially if you have children. Call 225-383-9953 to schedule a consultation with our Baton Rouge estate planning lawyers.

Personalized Service From Attorneys With Integrity And Professionalism

Our firm combines the skills and wisdom of experienced attorneys with the comfortable, welcoming environment we are known for. This will allow you to discuss these crucial issues in a comfortable, reassuring atmosphere so you can make informed decisions about what is best for your family.

Beyond the creation of simple wills and trusts, we can also help you explore other needs such as guardianships, conservatorships, interdictions, living wills and trusts, succession planning and insolvency planning.

Power of Attorney

One element of estate planning that’s not often considered is power of attorney. This is meant for instances in which you are incapacitated and cannot make financial or medical decisions on your own. If you assign properly drafted power of attorney in advance, a spouse or loved one can make important decisions on your behalf. You can assign power of attorney solely for medical decisions or financial decisions, or you can appoint one person to manage both.

This person can do financial tasks like file taxes for you, manage real estate, and collect Social Security and Medicare. If they have medical power of attorney, they can decide when to extend or not extend your life through life support systems, as well as allow your organs or other body parts to be donated. Granting permission to someone in advance can prevent legal issues later.

New Orleans Wills And Trusts Lawyer

We welcome the opportunity to help you devise thorough estate planning strategies that meet your needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

FAQs

Is a Trust Better Than a Will in Louisiana?

Trusts and wills are better for certain individuals depending on their own unique circumstances. Wills are effective documents for making important decisions regarding what happens once an individual is dead or incapacitated. They can outline an individual’s preferences for financial decisions and burial decisions once they have passed. Trusts can be used to avoid long stints in probate court and to avoid excessive taxes on assets.

At What Net Worth Should You Consider a Trust?

There is a common misconception that an individual must make a certain amount of money to consider putting their assets in a trust. In reality, trusts can benefit individuals of many different income levels who own property or other kinds of assets. Trusts can directly transfer these assets to beneficiaries with additional conditions in a way that skips probate. This form of estate planning is not necessarily associated with income.

What Voids a Will in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, a will could be considered void if it is not signed by the creator in front of a notary and additional witnesses. It could also be determined that the will was created as a result of significant pressure from another party and that the creator did not make the will based on their own desires. To learn more about how to address contests to a will, contact a Baton Rouge estate planning attorney.

Can You File Succession in Louisiana Without a Lawyer?

It is not advised to file succession in Louisiana without a lawyer. Most individuals with estates of a somewhat significant value must pass through probate, regardless of whether or not they created a will before they died. However, if a decedent had a smaller estate or if they created a trust, probate may not be necessary.

Prepare for Your Future

An estate plan is incredibly important to establish to ensure your assets are protected. To avoid future conflicts regarding your property, create an estate plan with attorneys who understand both estate planning law and tax law. For more information on how The Baringer Law Firm, L.L.C., can help preserve your legacy, schedule a consultation with us today.