Gonzales Succession Lawyer

Gonzales Succession Attorney

Successions are not easy to navigate, both legally and emotionally. When you have just dealt with the unimaginable loss of a loved one, it can make it much harder to address legal requirements and meet deadlines of the succession process.

Whether you are the executor of the estate or a beneficiary, the support of a Gonzales succession lawyer can be crucial in managing the distribution and administration of your loved one’s estate.

Compassionate Legal Support With Integrity

You don’t have to handle succession alone. For over 40 years, the team at Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC, has helped individuals and families grieving from a loss through the process of succession. Carl S. Goode is a diligent attorney who is board-certified in estate planning law and tax law. He can help with the administration of an estate and provide comprehensive legal representation and advice.

Our firm has professional relationships with the courts and judges in Gonzales. We navigate succession cases with skill because we’ve handled many, but we will always ensure our advice is tailored to your unique situation. Every succession is different, and we can help whether your case is complex or straightforward.

What Is a Succession?

Succession is the process of distributing the assets and settling the debts of a deceased individual, which is called probate in other states. If someone dies and they have no estate plan or only have a will, then their assets come under the jurisdiction of the state. The succession court then administers and distributes the estate through an executor or personal representative. Assets in succession include real estate property, bank accounts, vehicles, and other personal property.

Only when a person has an estate plan that includes trusts or other automatic asset transference methods can their estate avoid succession. Estate planning is an important tool to help succession go more smoothly for someone’s loved ones.

Unfortunately, many people do not have an estate plan. In 2021, only 46% of Americans had a will. In 2025, a different survey showed that 55% of Americans have no estate planning documents at all, which included trusts, wills, and other documents.

Types of Succession in Gonzales

Succession proceeds differently whether the deceased had a valid last will and testament or not. The succession is considered testate when there is a will, and intestate when there is no will. If a deceased individual has a will, one of the initial steps of succession is determining whether it is valid and can be used for the succession process.

In testate succession, assets are divided among beneficiaries based on the wishes the deceased lists in their will. The will can also list how to manage debts and the preferred guardians for minor children. In intestate succession, assets are divided based on the state’s inheritance laws.

Intestate succession tends to take longer and may involve more disputes, partially due to the laws dividing the amount of assets but not awarding specific assets like a will could.

Succession could also be a small succession, which applies to estates under a certain value that also meet other qualifications. These successions can be handled much more quickly because they avoid the formal succession process.

Why Is Legal Support Important?

There are many complex legal steps in the succession process, and these steps can change significantly depending on the complexity of the estate and the existence of an estate plan. It is crucial that you have legal support to make the process smooth.

An attorney helps you:

• File the succession
• Notify creditors
• Identify heirs
• Find and evaluate assets
• Address tax considerations
• Settle debts
• Distribute assets
• Address challenges and disputes

Managing these steps is not easy when you are grieving. The right legal support can help minimize the stress and could even avoid complex disputes.

FAQs

Do You Need a Lawyer to File a Succession in Louisiana?

You are usually legally able to file a succession without a lawyer in Louisiana, but this is a complex legal process, and you can benefit significantly by working with a lawyer. There are numerous legal requirements for filing for succession, and an attorney can help you meet these requirements.

There may also be disputes or contests of the succession process, which are easier to address with an attorney who has experience with them. An attorney could also prevent disputes.

How Much Does It Cost to File a Succession in Louisiana?

The cost of filing a succession in Louisiana varies depending on the parish and many other factors about the estate. In Ascension Parish, filing a new succession has a filing fee of $500. However, there are many other court costs and attorney’s fees to consider. The more complicated an estate is, the longer it will likely take to settle, costing you more. If the succession involves litigation, such as litigation over will validity, it can be very expensive.

How Long Does a Simple Succession Take in Louisiana?

The time it takes to complete a simple succession in Louisiana varies, although it will be shorter than complex successions with disputes, contests, and litigation. A succession is likely considered simple when there is a clear and uncontested estate plan with simple assets provided for a set number of beneficiaries. Working with a skilled succession attorney can give you a better idea of how long the succession process will take in your unique case.

How Do I Contest a Succession in Louisiana?

To contest a succession taking place in Gonzales, Louisiana, you must file your challenge with the 23rd Judicial District Court, which serves three parishes, including Ascension Parish. There must be valid grounds for the challenges. For example, if you are contesting a will, you have to show why it is not valid. If the will was made under duress or is forged, this would be grounds for contesting the will. You can also contest a succession by challenging the executor.

Administering and Settling a Loved One’s Estate

Navigating this case is much easier with legal representation, whether you are an executor or personal representative, or you are an heir or beneficiary. At Goode Tax and Estate Planning Law Group, LLC, we can provide you with compassionate and straightforward legal guidance.

We help you follow your loved one’s intentions in administering and distributing their estate. Our team understands this process isn’t easy, but we want to give you the aid you need. Contact our firm today.