When Family Comes First, the Planning Has to Come First Too
Elder law is rarely about one person. It's about a family trying to do right by someone they love — before a health crisis forces decisions that should have been made years earlier.
At Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, we work with seniors and their families throughout Louisiana to plan ahead with clarity and confidence. Whether you're a parent thinking about your own future or an adult child trying to figure out where to start, we'll meet you exactly where you are.
Elder Law Services We Provide
Every senior's situation is different. Some clients come to us with a parent already in a nursing facility. Others are healthy and want to plan while every option is still open. We meet clients where they are and build a strategy that fits their circumstances.
Medicaid Planning
Louisiana Medicaid rules are detailed, and the consequences of missteps are significant. We help seniors and families understand eligibility, structure assets within the rules, and submit applications with confidence. Whether planning is proactive or urgent, we work through the process with you.
Long-Term Care Planning
Long-term care planning goes beyond Medicaid. It includes coordinating your legal documents, reviewing insurance options, and ensuring your estate plan reflects the realities of aging. We help you build a complete picture — not just solve one piece of it.
What an Elder Law Attorney Actually Does
Elder law covers the legal and financial planning that becomes critical as people age — and it's broader than most families expect. An elder law attorney helps seniors and their families structure their affairs to preserve assets, qualify for government benefits, and make sure the right people have the authority to act when it matters.
In Louisiana, that work centers on two things: preparing for the real cost of long-term care, and building a plan before circumstances force your hand.
- Medicaid planning to help seniors qualify for benefits while protecting family assets
- Long-term care planning to prepare for the financial and legal realities of nursing home or in-home care
- Coordinating elder law strategy with existing estate planning documents
- Advising adult children and family members who are managing a loved one's affairs
- Guidance through Louisiana's specific rules around succession, community property, and government benefit eligibility
Blended Families
Complex family dynamics can create uncertainty; thoughtful planning ensures everyone is considered and protected.
Why Families Throughout Louisiana Choose Goode Law Group
- Carl Goode has held the Super Lawyers designation for approximately 15 years, placing him in the top 5% of Louisiana attorneys
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated — the highest peer review rating available
- Two attorneys work directly with clients — you are not handed off to staff
- Former U.S. Army JAG Corps Captain brings disciplined, thorough legal counsel
- Plain-language communication designed for seniors and families navigating this process for the first time
- Serving Baton Rouge and clients statewide, including New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria
Questions Families Ask Before They Call
What does an elder law attorney do in Louisiana?
An elder law attorney helps seniors and their families navigate the legal and financial planning that becomes critical as people age. In Louisiana, that typically means Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, powers of attorney, and coordinating those documents with an existing estate plan. The goal is to make sure your family has a clear plan before a health event forces decisions under pressure.
How do I protect my parents' assets from nursing home costs?
The most effective tool is Medicaid planning done well in advance of needing care. Louisiana's Medicaid program applies a five-year look-back period to asset transfers, so the earlier planning begins, the more options are available. An elder law attorney can help structure your parents' assets in ways that support Medicaid eligibility without simply spending everything down first.
When should we start elder law planning?
Earlier than most families think. Many people wait until a health crisis is already underway, which limits the planning options significantly. If your parent is in reasonably good health and the family is starting to think about what's ahead, that's the right time to have the first conversation.
Do you work with adult children, or only with the senior directly?
Both. Many of our elder law clients are adult children researching options on behalf of a parent. We're comfortable working with the whole family, and we'll make sure the senior's own wishes and preferences stay at the center of the planning.
Does Goode Law Group serve clients outside of Baton Rouge?
Yes. Our main office is in Baton Rouge, and we serve clients throughout Louisiana. We work with families in New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, and across the state.
Start With a Conversation That Brings Clarity
A Clear Starting Point for a Difficult Conversation
You don't need to have it all figured out before you call. Most families who reach out to us are at the beginning of this process — uncertain about what they need, worried about what they don't know, and looking for someone who will take the time to explain it clearly.
That's exactly the kind of conversation we're here for. Reach out to schedule a free initial phone consultation, and we'll help you understand your options without pressure or obligation.
