Louisiana Estate Planning: Estate Planning

Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Estate Planning Blogs

Estate Planning

Louisiana Estate Planning

Estate Planning for Louisiana Residents.
By Myrna Arroyo

Post Frequency: 0.7/day

Last Entry: February 05, 2009 at 17:52:27

The Louisiana Intestate Will

Posted on February 05, 2009
Note - The following is not a legal document, it is an illustration of how your property will be distributed under Louisiana law if you die without a will. *********************************************************************************************************** Louisiana Intestate Will Article 1 - I direct the probate court to appoint anyone of its choosing, to be my succession representative and administer all property owned by me on [...

2009 Tax Changes that May Affect Your Estate Plan

Posted on February 02, 2009
The Estate Tax Exemption, the amount of money that you can pass to your heirs without triggering estate taxes, has increased from $2 Million to $3.5 Million. Current law provides for a total repeal of the estate tax in 2010, and then a return to the $1 Million exemption in 2011...

Download your Free 2009 Action Plan from Suze Orman today!

Posted on January 19, 2009
If you are confused about how to get your finances in order for 2009, I have a great resource to recommend to you. Suze Orman has made an electronic copy of her 2009 Action Plan available for free! To get your copy, go to www.oprah.com or download it using the link below.

Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Rises to $13,000 for 2009

Posted on January 19, 2009
If you use tax-free annual gifts as part of your estate tax planning, please note that the maximum for 2009 annual gifts has increased from $12,000 per person per donee to $13,000 per person per donee. This increases the amount you can gift without incurring gift tax or having to file a gift tax return.

To access blog feed reader register for free. (You will also learn about new ways to read and access the freshest law blogs.)

Upcoming Events - Questions and Answers on the Economy

Posted on January 15, 2009
Confused about the economy? Feel like selling every share of stock you own? Before you make a rash decision, you may want to take advantage of this event offered by Jeff Cobb, Certified Financial Planner. Details follow: _______________________________________________________________________________ As most of you know, our financial markets have been extremely volatile as of late...

The Five Legal Documents Your Family Must Have, Regardless of Your Net Worth

Posted on January 14, 2009
Watch the following video from CNBC, where my fellow estate planning attorney Alexis Neely discusses the five legal documents every family needs, regardless of wealth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky9SIT7eOJE If you are a Louisiana resident, after you watch the video, visit www...

Can?t Pay Your Mortgage? Don?t Pay a Fee For a Loan Modification Until You Read This!

Posted on November 29, 2008
If you are having trouble paying your mortgage or afraid you might be in trouble once your adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) resets, you are probably noticing advertisements all over the place for people or companies claiming they can help you get your loan modified...

A Plan for Getting Your Investment Portfolio Back On Track

Posted on November 09, 2008
If you have any money in the stock market at all right, now, you are probably concerned about the losses to your investment portfolio. The Motley Fool has recently issued a report called You Can Do It, Rebuilding Wealth After the Crisis. This report gives tips on assessing the damage to your portfolio and gives constructive [...

Possible Effects of Obama?s Presidency on Your Finances

Posted on November 07, 2008
Mike Patton, a fnacial planning professional with the firm of Integrity Wealth Management, LLC, has posted the following article where he summarizes some of the changes we may see with the new administration. http://integritywealth.us/obama_presidency...

Is it Better to Buy a Home, or Rent?

Posted on November 06, 2008
Conventional wisdom says buy, but depending on your particular situation, and how long you plan on staying in the house, renting may be the most financially sound option. Check out this calculator and article from the New York Times. The calculator takes into account transaction costs, and costs of owning a home, such as repairs [...

Helpful Forms for Executors and Succession Representatives Available Online

Posted on November 05, 2008
When a loved one dies, there are numerous details that need to be handled. These include things like cancelling subscriptions, notifying insurance companies, and notices to creditors. Although handling a succession in Louisiana is probably not something you want to undertake without legal assistance, you can save money on legal fees by handling some of [...

My Move to a Virtual Law Firm

Posted on November 04, 2008
As you have no doubt noted if you follow my blog, I have launched a virtual law firm site that offers wills, living trusts, and other estate planning documents bundled with legal advice for a fixed price. The site is designed to provide an alernative to web sites like LegacyWriter, Do Your Own Will, LegalZoom, and [...

How to Choose Between a Will or a Living Trust

Posted on November 02, 2008
Many people ask about this, and the answer is different for everyone. It depends on what is important to you and your family. I developed the attached chart to help you decide which might work best for you. Click on the link below for an at a glance view of the different effects of each [...

Planning a Long Vacation or Sabbatical? How to Get Your Estate Planning Done Before You Leave!

Posted on October 31, 2008
Going abroad for an extended trip? Make sure your estate planning documents are completed, and that your family members know where to find the originals. What You Must Have Will. You will need a will that directs who you would like to inherit your property when you die, and names guardians for your minor children...

Special Offer - FREE Louisiana Living Will

Posted on October 17, 2008
You know you need to get your estate planning documents in place, but it is so easy to put it off. At my new website, you can easily and affordably put together your Louisiana estate planning with the help of a licensed Louisiana attorney. For a limited time, I am offering you the opportunity to [...

Online Estate Planning Tool Now Available for Louisiana Residents

Posted on October 15, 2008
You can now prepare an attorney-assisted estate plan online in Louisiana. The Louisiana Will Forms Website can help you protect your family and create an estate plan affordably and without having to go to an attorney’s office. Visit http://louisianawillforms...

The Ultimate Guide to Estate Planning in Louisiana is Now on Amazon!

Posted on June 03, 2008

Planning for Long Term Care

Posted on April 29, 2008
Studies predict that approximately 40% (2 out of every 5) of Americans reaching age 65 will need some type of long-term care (LTC). Some of your clients would prefer to stay at home, no matter what the cost. However, without proper planning, the lack of available services and the staggering price tag for full-time home [...

5 Steps to Realizing Your Financial Dreams Before Retirement

Posted on April 18, 2008
This week we have a guest author, my own Personal Power Mentor, Cookie Tuminello. Enjoy! - Myrna Quote: ?All of our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them.? - Walt Disney For the past 10 weeks, Myrna has been sharing with you her ?10 Keys To Financial Peace...

When a Loved One Dies in Louisiana - What To Expect

Posted on April 13, 2008
The death of a loved one can be a very difficult and emotional time. I have developed this information to provide you (and other survivors) with some idea of what normally must be done to administer an estate in Louisiana after a loved one has passed away...

Special Announcement for Subscribers of Weekly Wealth Tips

Posted on April 11, 2008
Many of you subscribe to my ezine, Weekly Wealth Tips, and perhaps you have noticed its absence these last few weeks. I have launched a new website, www.LouisianaWealthPlanning.com, which I encourage you to visit. Due to this new website, I have changed the name of my weekly ezine to Louisiana Wealth Planning News...

Things to do When a Loved One Passes Away

Posted on April 11, 2008
The death of a loved one or a close friend can be a very difficult and emotional time. I have developed this information to provide you (and other survivors) with some idea of what normally must be done to administer an estate in Louisiana after a loved one has passed away...

Some Estate Planning Humor from

Posted on April 08, 2008
Some Estate Planning Humor from the Enterprising Investor Blog. See the original post at http://ei-forum.com/2008/04/07/dilbert-estate-planning/. Enjoy!

Planning for 2010

Posted on April 05, 2008
Planning for 2010, the year when there is no estate tax, raises some interesting moral, legal, and ethical issues. http://estateplanningblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/planning-for-2010.html In this post, my colleague Henna Shaw explores the opportunities and the dilemmas raised by the prospect of no estate tax in 2010...

Planning for Unmarried Couples

Posted on April 01, 2008
The 2000 census counted nearly 5.5 million U.S. unmarried couples sharing the same household, almost 8 times the number counted in 1970 and nearly 10% of the 60 million U.S. couple households counted. Of these, many are widows and widowers who choose not to marry for various reasons, and approximately 1% of these unmarried couples [...

The Top Six Reasons People Do Not Do Estate Planning

Posted on March 27, 2008
This is the list you never expected an estate planning attorney to write. I got the idea from my friend Bill Losey, check out his website at www.myretirementsuccess.com. Reason #6 - “I’m too busy” This is the most common excuse. People say they care about their family’s future, but they put off planning...

Estate Planning is Not Just About Money?

Posted on March 18, 2008
This article in the NY Times (click here to view) points out that for many families, estate planning is more about family issues than tax issues. Increasingly, wealthy families are designing estate plans to pass values of philanthropy and work onto their children, using charitable planning to split the benefits of the estate between the kids [...

Heath Ledger Estate Planning Out of Date and No Mention of Daughter Matilda or Her Mother Michelle Williams in Will

Posted on March 16, 2008
Once again, another celebrity has died with an out-of-date Will. Heath Ledger?s Will has been made public (as all Wills are public documents after death) and it turns out that the Will, made three years prior to his daughter?s birth, leaves everything to his parents and sister...

Ten Costly Mistakes Families Make When Planning for a Special Needs Child, and How to Avoid Them

Posted on March 13, 2008
COSTLY MISTAKE #1: Disinheriting the child. Many disabled people rely on SSI, Medicaid or other government benefits to provide food and shelter. You may have been advised to disinherit your disabled child - the child who needs your help most - to protect that child’s public benefits...

Why Parents Must Legally Nominate Guardians for Their Children

Posted on March 11, 2008
It is important to designate in writing exactly who you want to care for your children if something happens to you. If you don?t do this, your children could be raised by someone you would never want! Maybe you know who you would want to raise your kids and they?ve even agreed...

Get More Life Insurance for the Same Cost

Posted on February 27, 2008
Life insurance can be a great tool to ensure that your loved ones are cared for after you are gone. But often, Uncle Sam becomes the recipient of as much as half of the life insurance proceeds. How can you make sure your life insurance benefits go to your family after your death and not Uncle Sam? This is important because, once the Federal Estate Tax kicks in, the rate is high (currently 45%)...

Planning for Pets

Posted on January 22, 2008
For many pet owners, pets are members of the family. These individuals often say that if something happens to them, they are more concerned with what will happen to their pets than to their children or spouse. This issue of The Wealth Advisor examines the issues surrounding caring for pets after the disability or death of the pet's owner...

5 Myths about Living Trusts in Louisiana

Posted on January 08, 2008
There are numerous myths floating out there about the use of revocable living trusts as estate planning tools in Louisiana. Due to being oversold in the 80s and 90s, these types of trusts have gotten a bad name. Myth #1 - If I transfer my property to a living trust I will lose my homestead exemption...

The Ultimate Guide to Estate Planning in Louisana - Now Available!

Posted on December 28, 2007
I have finally finished it! My new book is ready. To order it use the following link. http://www.lulu.com/myrnaearroyo Or you can get a copy free by visiting my website and signing up for my weekly ezine - Weekly Wealth Tips, using this link: www...

New Planning Opportunties for With Non-Spouse Rollovers

Posted on November 29, 2007
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 authorized beneficiaries other than surviving spouses to roll over a qualified plan to an inherited IRA. This issue of The Wealth Counselor looks at a very recent pronouncement from the IRS that gives meaning to this provision and, therefore, is very beneficial to clients and all wealth planning professionals who understand its implications...

Keeping Your Family Legacy in Your Family with an Inheritance Trust

Posted on November 25, 2007
Most people who do estate planning using wills or trust,their assets outright to their adult children in equal shares when they die. So, what is wrong with that? Well, there may be a better way. Instead of leaving your assets equally to your children, why not leave it to your children in trusts, which you can create here and now? The Inheritance Trust is created by you, today, as settlor, naming your child as trustee and beneficiary when you die...

How To Hire an Estate Planning Attorney

Posted on November 19, 2007
Choosing an attorney to help you with your estate planning is an important task. The decision certainly should not be made on the basis of advertising. The Yellow Pages are filled with ads–all of which say basically the same thing. You should not hire based solely on TV advertising–anyone can buy a slick commercial...

Free Medicaid Planning Report Now Available on My Website

Posted on November 17, 2007
In response to frequent questions about Medicaid planning, I have put together a free report titled "The Top 10 Medicaid Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them." In this report I cover the most common medicaid planning mistakes I run into in my practice...

Understanding the Significance of Trusts

Posted on November 12, 2007
This post addresses a topic that is important to many Americans yet is sometimes misunderstood - trusts. In the right circumstances, trusts can provide significant advantages to those who utilize them, particularly in protecting trust assets from the creditors of beneficiaries...

Handling a Succession, What Every Executor Needs To Know

Posted on November 10, 2007
If you find yourself faced with the challege of handling a succession for a loved one, my free information guide, "Handling a Succession, What Every Executor Needs To Know" should give you most of the information you need to get started. To download your copy, visit www...