Prairieville Succession Lawyer

Prairieville Succession Attorney

No one plans for a loved one to pass away, but when it happens, succession often follows. A Prairieville succession lawyer can be helpful as you learn about the legal steps involved in closing out an estate.

Experienced Succession Attorney in Prairieville

Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC, has been in business for over 40 years. We’ve used our board certifications to help people divide assets in a way that suits their needs.

We’re committed to performing highly in our field, as shown by our inclusion in Super Lawyers.

What Is Succession?

Succession is how Louisiana handles estates. It’s not required in all cases, but most estates need to go through succession.

The moment a person, known as the decedent, dies, the succession process starts. Those responsible for working through the estate need to gather many documents for the estate to be opened. The sooner it’s opened, the better. Succession is often needed for bills to be paid urgently when someone passes away.

This process happens through the local courts where the person used to live. If they lived in Prairieville, succession would happen in Ascension Parish.

If the decedent had a will, this means they determined where their assets would go in advance. However, a will has to meet certain requirements to be accepted. For example, not all handwritten wills are valid. There are also notary requirements.

Wills must specifically list the decedent’s heirs and the portion of the estate they will receive. They can also designate an administrator, who has to verify that the will is correctly executed.

What Happens Without a Will?

Dying without a will is known as dying intestate. It’s very important to determine whether the decedent had a will. If not, their estate will be divided according to Louisiana’s intestate succession laws.

In this case, who inherits the estate depends on what types of heirs exist. Their relation to the deceased person is important in intestate succession.

Usually, the most important family members are the decedent’s spouse and children. The exact amount they inherit depends on what other heirs are in the picture.

Many families with children live in Prairieville. In fact, 16% of residents are under 10, and 13% are ages 10-17. Some of these families struggle to keep the peace after a death, especially if there’s no will.

There are some circumstances when the decedent doesn’t have any close relatives. These cases are handled individually, and the estate might even be given to the state to divide.

Common Succession Pitfalls

Succession sounds simple, but there are traps that can throw everything off.

Here are a few that are common in succession cases around Prairieville:

• Immovable property. This includes homes. Typically, immovable property must be reviewed by the Ascension Parish Assessor’s Office. A thorough process needs to be followed before the property is legally transferred to the owners.
• Out-of-state residents. Sometimes, people die in another state but have property in Louisiana. Usually, this means that probate will be carried out in the other state, but the out-of-state property must be taken care of.
• Debts. Anything owed to creditors after a death needs to be paid before any assets are given out. It gets more complicated if the decedent died with a mortgage.
• Taxes. There are usually separate taxes that appear after a person has died, including a tax on the estate as a whole. Another tax is assessed on the beneficiaries based on how much they were given by the decedent.
• Beneficiary disputes. The list of beneficiaries needs to be exact to make sure everyone gets what they’re owed. If there are disputes between parties, they may need to be resolved using something like mediation.

These concerns don’t come up in every case, but they are still important to consider throughout the process.

Why Hire a Succession Lawyer?

Most of the time, people mean well when they do a succession on their own. They want to save money to benefit their family in the long run. Usually, this only ends in confusion.

Prairieville is a growing community. Families are planning for the future. Succession issues don’t fit neatly into a busy family schedule. Hiring a professional gives you breathing room.

Instead of wasting time trying to figure out the details, an attorney can solve these issues faster.

Why Choose Us?

Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC, is one of just a few firms in the whole state with board certification in Louisiana estate law. We can give you a more holistic overview of the entire succession process to prevent some of the most common issues.

FAQs

What Is Succession in Louisiana?

Succession is the process by which a deceased person’s assets are divided based on a set of rules. This can be done with a will or through the state’s intestate laws if the person dies without a will. However, there are some assets and estates that don’t need to go through succession, such as assets in trusts.

Do I Still Need to Go Through Succession if the Deceased Has a Will?

An estate must go through succession if the deceased had a will, in most cases. The will is a list of instructions that need to be carried out, but the process itself still needs to happen. The only exceptions are for assets that don’t have to go through succession. Even people with some assets that skip succession might have to go through the process.

What Happens if Someone Dies Without a Will in Prairieville?

If someone dies without a will in Prairieville, their assets are passed to their family members. Louisiana follows a specific order based on familial relationships. However, dying without a will can often lead to family disputes over property. In Prairieville, 88% of residents own their homes, which often make up a large portion of the decedent’s estate. Since Louisiana is a community property state, the property could be given to the spouse.

Who Handles the Estate if There’s No Named Executor?

If there’s no named executor, the court appoints someone to handle the estate. The person they choose varies depending on who is available for the process. There’s a list of people who get priority, but the court makes the final decision. They often look at potential executors’ backgrounds when determining if they’re a good fit.

Contact a Prairieville Succession Attorney Today

It’s normal to feel stressed while going through succession, but our skilled legal team has helped many families simplify this overwhelming process.

Schedule a consultation with Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC, to learn more about our services.