When someone leaves assets behind through their estate plan, they trusted that those assets would be properly managed and distributed in accordance with their wishes. In many instances, estate executors and trustees handle their duties without issue. In some cases,...
Probate And Estate Administration
Inventory of estate assets
Many adults name someone in their will to manage their estate after they pass away. If a person dies without a will or the will is declared invalid, the court will typically appoint someone to manage the decedent’s estate. This person, often referred to as the...
What should I know about a small succession in Louisiana?
When a person dies in Louisiana and their property is set to be passed on to loved ones and others they may have named in their estate plan, the estate must go through succession. This is a term that Louisiana uses and is generally referred to as probate in other...
What will happen to your loved one’s debt when they pass away?
While many people want to leave a legacy to their loved ones after they are gone, in many cases they also leave behind unpaid debts. What happens to those financial obligations after they pass away? What happens to debt during the succession process? Around three out...
What are the steps of administering an estate?
Administering an estate is an important responsibility. For that reason, both estate planners and their families should be familiar with the process of how an estate is administered. Understanding how an estate is administered can help estate planners develop an...
What might happen if you die before creating a will
If property is held in your Louisiana estate at the time of your death, it will likely be subject to state probate laws. The probate process is used to determine how those assets should be distributed to beneficiaries. It may also be used to appoint a guardian for...
When Louisiana residents die without a will
The laws governing what happens to a deceased person's property in Louisiana can differ from what may happen in many other states. One interesting aspect of estate law in the Bayou State is what happens to property when the deceased person did not have a will....
What is the difference between an heir and a beneficiary?
Louisiana residents who are planning their estate know that both heirs and beneficiaries stand to benefit from the assets left behind But many people are not fully aware of the differences between these two designations. Estate planners should understand this...
Why assets won’t go through probate
If you lived in Louisiana at the time of your passing, your estate will likely be subject to the state's probate laws. Probate ensures that a deceased person's will is valid and carried out in a timely manner. However, there is a chance that your assets will transfer...
The responsibilities of an estate executor
There are many tasks that an executor will need to complete after an individual dies. Typically, the first step in the process of settling a deceased person's affairs is to present the will to a probate judge. Probate may take place in Louisiana if the deceased...