Estate Planning Is Not Just for the Wealthy
A lot of Baton Rouge families think estate planning is something you do once you have a big house in the Garden District or a retirement portfolio worth talking about. That’s not how it works.
If you have a child, own a home, have a bank account, or simply care about what happens to your family when you’re gone, you already have an estate. The only question is whether you’ve decided what happens to it — or whether Louisiana has decided for you.
The state has a default plan. It kicks in the moment you die without one of your own. That plan may not match what you actually want. Our job is to help you replace it with something that does.
Why Louisiana Estate Planning Is Different
Louisiana is the only state in America that does not follow English common law. Our legal system traces back to French and Spanish civil codes, and that affects your estate plan in real ways that your cousin in Texas or your brother in Mississippi won’t have to deal with.
Forced Heirship
Louisiana requires that certain children receive a portion of your estate. You cannot disinherit them the same way you could in another state. If you have children who are 23 or younger, or who are permanently incapacitated, forced heirship rules apply to your estate.
Community Property
Property you and your spouse acquire during your marriage generally belongs to both of you equally, regardless of whose name is on the account or the deed. This affects how you can leave that property and to whom.
Usufruct
This is a Louisiana concept that does not exist in most states. A usufruct gives a surviving spouse the right to use property that technically belongs to the children. It sounds helpful, but without proper planning it can create real conflict and complications down the road.
These rules matter. An estate plan written by someone who does not understand Louisiana’s civil law system may not do what you think it does.
Estate Planning Services We Provide to Baton Rouge Families
Wills and Trusts
A valid Louisiana will has specific formal requirements. It is not enough to write down your wishes and sign the paper. We help you create a notarial testament that holds up in the 19th Judicial District Court and anywhere else in Louisiana your family may need to use it.
For families who want to avoid the succession process altogether, a revocable living trust can transfer your assets to your loved ones without court involvement. We explain the difference, help you understand which approach fits your situation, and make sure the documents are done right.
Powers of Attorney
If something happens to you and you cannot manage your own finances, your family has two options. Either you already signed a durable power of attorney naming someone to step in — or they go to court. The court process in Louisiana is called interdiction, and it is expensive, slow, and painful for everyone involved.
A properly drafted power of attorney costs a fraction of what interdiction costs. We help Baton Rouge families protect themselves before they ever need it.
Healthcare Directives
Our Lady of the Lake, Baton Rouge General, and the Baton Rouge campus of the LSU Health Sciences Center are excellent facilities. But if you are admitted and cannot speak for yourself, someone needs the legal authority to speak for you.
A healthcare power of attorney names that person. A living will tells them — and your doctors — what you want at the end of life. A HIPAA authorization makes sure your family can even access information about your care. We prepare all three and make sure they work together.
Business Succession Planning
Baton Rouge’s economy runs on government, petrochemicals, healthcare, and an increasingly diverse mix of small and mid-sized businesses. If you own a business — whether it’s a professional practice near downtown, a manufacturing operation along the Mississippi, or a family enterprise that has been running for generations — you need a plan for what happens to it.
We help business owners in East Baton Rouge Parish and surrounding areas develop succession plans that minimize taxes, protect the people who depend on the business, and keep things running when you step back.
Estate Tax Planning
Most families don’t owe federal estate tax, but some do. If your estate may be subject to federal estate taxes, we can help you structure things in a way that preserves more of what you’ve built for the people you leave behind.
Who We Serve in the Capital Region
Our main office is at 3956 Government Street in Baton Rouge. We serve families throughout East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding area, including:
- Ascension Parish — Gonzales, Prairieville, Donaldsonville
- Livingston Parish — Denham Springs, Walker, Watson
- West Baton Rouge Parish — Port Allen, Brusly
- Iberville Parish — Plaquemine, White Castle
- East Feliciana Parish — Clinton
- West Feliciana Parish — St. Francisville
- Pointe Coupee Parish — New Roads
- St. Helena Parish – Greensburg, Montpelier
Since our initial consultations can happen over Zoom or phone, you don’t need to travel if you’d prefer the comfort of your home. When it’s time to sign your documents, we’ll meet you at our Government Street office. We also offer statewide services for clients throughout Louisiana who need board-certified estate planning guidance.
What to Expect When You Work With Us
We start with a Legacy Navigation Meeting. It’s a one-on-one consultation with one of our attorneys — not a paralegal or intake coordinator. You’ll come in (or join by video) knowing that your attorney has already reviewed your situation and prepared specific recommendations for you.
There’s a consultation fee because we do real work before you walk in the door. Unlike free consultations at firms where you spend the whole meeting just answering questions, ours is spent actually planning.
At the end of the meeting, you’ll receive a clear recommendation and a quote for your plan. No pressure. No rush.
Why Baton Rouge Families Choose Legacy Estate & Elder Law
Our attorneys are board certified in Estate Planning and Administration by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. That credential is held by fewer than one percent of Louisiana attorneys. It means our knowledge has been tested and verified — not just assumed.
We have nearly 40 years of combined experience working with Louisiana families under Louisiana law. We are members of ElderCounsel, the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel, and the Academy of Special Needs Planners.
But more than credentials, what sets us apart is how we work with families. We explain things clearly. We answer your questions without making you feel rushed. We treat your plan like it matters — because it does.