Lafayette Wills & Probate Lawyer, Louisiana

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Includes: Estate Administration, Living Wills, Wills

Christopher L Trahan Lawyer

Christopher L Trahan

VERIFIED
Car Accident, Criminal, Personal Injury, Wills & Probate

You want a competent lawyer you can talk to. Call us and speak to a lawyer. We have more than two decades experience dealing with all jurisdictions ... (more)

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800-874-3180

Sean Matthew Stockstill Lawyer

Sean Matthew Stockstill

VERIFIED
Real Estate, Wills & Probate, Estate, Trusts, Collection

Mr. Stockstill graduated from Louisiana State University (B.A. 2005) and Louisiana State University Law Center (J.D./D.C.L. 2009). Admitted to the Lo... (more)

Barry J. Heinen

Personal Injury, Car Accident, Wills, Divorce
Status:  In Good Standing           

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Leon Colbert

Wills, Divorce, Personal Injury
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  23 Years

Christopher Edouard Larue

Criminal, Accident & Injury, Wills & Probate
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  30 Years

Kenneth David St Pe'

Power of Attorney, Tax Litigation, Wills & Probate, Personal Injury, Mass Torts
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  31 Years

Michael Van Ardoin

Tax Litigation, Traffic, Immigration, Wills & Probate
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  33 Years

Jessica Susan Hapak

Wills, Workers' Compensation, Divorce, Child Support, Divorce & Family Law
Status:  In Good Standing           

Karla Hyler Smith

Traffic, Wills & Probate, Criminal, Bankruptcy & Debt
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  11 Years

Valerie Gotch Garrett

Wills, Family Law, Criminal, Car Accident, Personal Injury
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  31 Years

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LEGAL TERMS

TRUSTEE POWERS

The provisions in a trust document defining what the trustee may and may not do.

AB TRUST

A trust that allows couples to reduce or avoid estate taxes. Each spouse puts his or her property in an AB trust. When the first spouse dies, his or her half of... (more...)
A trust that allows couples to reduce or avoid estate taxes. Each spouse puts his or her property in an AB trust. When the first spouse dies, his or her half of the property goes to the beneficiaries named in the trust -- commonly, the grown children of the couple -- with the crucial condition that the surviving spouse has the right to use the property for life and is entitled to any income it generates. The surviving spouse may even be allowed to spend principal in certain circumstances. When the surviving spouse dies, the property passes to the trust beneficiaries. It is not considered part of the second spouse's estate for estate tax purposes. Using this kind of trust keeps the second spouse's taxable estate half the size it would be if the property were left directly to the spouse. This type of trust is also known as a bypass or credit shelter trust.

INCOMPETENCE

The inability, as determined by a court, to handle one's own personal or financial affairs. A court may declare that a person is incompetent after a hearing at ... (more...)
The inability, as determined by a court, to handle one's own personal or financial affairs. A court may declare that a person is incompetent after a hearing at which the person is present and/or represented by an attorney. A finding of incompetence may lead to the appointment of a conservator to manage the person's affairs. Also known as 'incompetency.'

SELF-PROVING WILL

A will that is created in a way that allows a probate court to easily accept it as the true will of the person who has died. In most states, a will is self-prov... (more...)
A will that is created in a way that allows a probate court to easily accept it as the true will of the person who has died. In most states, a will is self-proving when two witnesses sign under penalty of perjury that they observed the willmaker sign it and that he told them it was his will. If no one contests the validity of the will, the probate court will accept the will without hearing the testimony of the witnesses or other evidence. To make a self-proving will in other states, the willmaker and one or more witnesses must sign an affidavit (sworn statement) before a notary public certifying that the will is genuine and that all willmaking formalities have been observed.

INHERITANCE TAXES

Taxes some states impose on people or organizations who inherit property from a deceased person's estate. The taxes are based on the value of the inherited prop... (more...)
Taxes some states impose on people or organizations who inherit property from a deceased person's estate. The taxes are based on the value of the inherited property.

REAL ESTATE AGENT

A foot soldier of the real estate business who shows houses and does most of the other nitty-gritty tasks associated with selling real estate. An agent must hav... (more...)
A foot soldier of the real estate business who shows houses and does most of the other nitty-gritty tasks associated with selling real estate. An agent must have a state license and be supervised by a real estate broker. Most agents are completely dependent upon commissions from sellers for their income, so it pays to find out which side the agent represents (buyer, seller or both) before you place too much trust in the agent's opinion.

DISTRIBUTEE

(1) Anyone who receives something. Usually, the term refers to someone who inherits a deceased person's property. If the deceased person dies without a will (ca... (more...)
(1) Anyone who receives something. Usually, the term refers to someone who inherits a deceased person's property. If the deceased person dies without a will (called intestate), state law determines what each distributee will receive. Also called a beneficiary.

ADEMPTION

The failure of a bequest of property in a will. The gift fails (is 'adeemed') because the person who made the will no longer owns the property when he or she di... (more...)
The failure of a bequest of property in a will. The gift fails (is 'adeemed') because the person who made the will no longer owns the property when he or she dies. Often this happens because the property has been sold, destroyed or given away to someone other than the beneficiary named in the will. A bequest may also be adeemed when the will maker, while still living, gives the property to the intended beneficiary (called 'ademption by satisfaction'). When a bequest is adeemed, the beneficiary named in the will is out of luck; he or she doesn't get cash or a different item of property to replace the one that was described in the will. For example, Mark writes in his will, 'I leave to Rob the family vehicle,' but then trades in his car in for a jet ski. When Mark dies, Rob will receive nothing. Frustrated beneficiaries may challenge an ademption in court, especially if the property was not clearly identified in the first place.

WILL

A document in which you specify what is to be done with your property when you die and name your executor. You can also use your will to name a guardian for you... (more...)
A document in which you specify what is to be done with your property when you die and name your executor. You can also use your will to name a guardian for your young children.

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

IN RE SIVERD

... Siverd. However, on November 28, 2007, Edward DuFaur filed a petition for probate of last will and testament, asserting that Holly Siverd in fact died testate, having executed a last will and testament on January 29, 2007. The ...

In re Succession of Davis

... [1]. An order admitting Davis's will to probate and authorizing letters testamentary to Cano was signed by a Texas court on June 20, 2006. ... 3401, et seq., and La. RS 9:2421, et seq. An order of probate was signed by the Louisiana court on January 11, 2007. ...

IN RE SUCCESSION OF DOUCET

... Beverly Sanders Doucet appeals a judgment that refused to probate a copy of the notarial will that her late husband executed naming her his sole universal legatee. ... Reiterating 741 that "it is not clear what became of the will," the court rejected Beverly's claim for probate. ...