When you start a family business in Louisiana, you want it to last. But few businesses make it into the second or third generations. Only 30% of companies have a business succession plan in place for when their founder or leader passes. Making a business succession...
What happens when heirs feel upset over a will?
Heirs may have different ideas about "fair" when a will goes through probate in Louisiana. One relative might believe he/she is "owed" a set amount of money or possession of a particular heirloom. Although someone may feel a specific way, hurt feelings or entitlement...
Should people include lifetime giving in their estate?
Creating an estate plan is important for Louisiana residents. While the current federal estate tax exemption is quite high, the tax burden can still be an issue for some people. There are, however, a few ways that this can be addressed. What exactly is lifetime...
Why you should pay for estate planning advice
Ideally, you will craft your estate plan with the help of a Louisiana estate planning professional. This person may help you think about what you want your estate plan to do and what might happen if your goals change at some point in the future. Take a look at some of...
Never too young for estate planning in Louisiana
When you're in your 20s and 30s and just establishing a career path, it's easy to overlook estate planning. After all, most people live well beyond their early adulthood and have decades ahead of them during which such matters could be handled. But when car accidents,...
Tips for creating a business succession plan
If you own a business in Louisiana, it is important that you have a succession plan in place. This is true even if you don't think that you will be retiring or giving up control of the company anytime soon. Let's take a look at the process of creating a plan and how...
Estate planning for those with a brain disease
For many people in Louisiana and across the country, putting together an estate plan can be challenging. However, for those suffering with a neurological disease, the matter can be more complex. For this reason, these people might consider taking proactive steps in...
Get a head start on planning your estate
When you’re young, you might consider estate planning the realm of older adults. You might think of your parents or grandparents drafting a plan, considering the future of their assets only when they reach a certain age. Yet this is a misconception. By starting young,...
Have you considered creating a plan for your pet?
Many dog and cat owners love their animals more than anything in the world, and they can't stand the thought of what could happen to their pets in the event they're no longer able to take care of them. For this reason, many Louisiana pet owners choose to incorporate a...
Avoid these 4 estate planning pitfalls
Most Louisiana estate planners set up their estate plans not for themselves but for the family members they leave behind. However, one false move and your best-laid estate plans could lie in ruin -- resulting in huge costs, headaches and difficulties for your loved...