Why Louisiana has Parishes Instead of Counties?
After watching a national news reporter consistently use Orleans County for days in a row, I decided to shed some light on why New Orleans has parishes instead of counties. By the way, the only State besides Louisiana not to have counties is Alaska, which has "boroughs".
The reason...
Remote Notarizations
Please be aware that - although with the emergency declaration by the Governor of Louisiana which allows for certain Notarial acts to be done electronically under specific guidelines - the declaration by the Governor DOES NOT APPLY to Wills and Trusts and other legal documents which require witnesses and the Notary to...
The Stimulus Passed. Now Beware of IRS Scam Phone Calls.
Cover-19 Update
My office is open, while we are working remotely. Please feel free to call the office number to set up a phone conference with me. For existing clients, if you need certified copies of Wills, Powers of Attorney, or Living Wills, please call and let us...
How to Leave Gifts to Step-Children
Today, blended families have become increasingly common, and many individuals have step-children, that is, children of a spouse. In situations where step-children have not been legally adopted, however, they do not have a legal right to an inheritance from a step-parent. For those...
What is the Medicaid Lookback Period?
Medicaid is a healthcare program jointly operated by the individual states and the federal government. Medicaid is designed to help individuals with limited income and resources pay for healthcare costs including nursing home care, assisted living, or in-home care. However, qualifying for Medicaid can be difficult. While eligibility is state-dependent, there are generally four...
Why Shouldn’t I use a form from the internet for my will?
In this computer age, when so many tasks are accomplished via the internet -- including banking, shopping, and important business communications -- it may seem logical to turn to the internet when creating a legal document such as a will . Certainly, there...
Why you should give your Spouse a Power of Attorney.
Married couples will often have legal estate documents prepared together. Such documents may include a will, leaving all property to the surviving spouse and/or the couple’s children, and a living will to direct the spouse how to handle medical issues if one spouse becomes incapacitated. However, another estate document may be beneficial for spouses...
A Living Will or Health Care Power of Attorney? Or Do I Need Both?
Many people are confused by these two important estate planning documents. It’s important to understand the functions of each and ensure you are fully protected by incorporating both of these documents into your overall estate plan.
A “living will,” often called an advance health...
Reverse Mortgages and Older Americans
Perhaps you’ve seen the catchy commercials for a reverse mortgage stating that many older Americans are struggling to get by because they currently do not have enough in savings and retirement funds to manage their expenses, but yet many have equity in their homes. To solve the financial difficulties, the commercial recommends using a...