Estate Planning
Protect your legacy with practical, business-minded estate planning.
A good estate plan expresses your wishes. A great estate plan ensures they are fulfilled.
Most people delay estate planning because it requires difficult conversations. But leaving decisions unmade creates confusion and conflict for the people you care about most, often at an already difficult time.
Couhig Partners’ attorneys are also business owners and investors, which means we approach estate planning with a practical perspective. We examine how your assets are held, how decisions are made during your lifetime, and where risks may arise without proper documentation. Then, we develop a plan that reflects your circumstances rather than a generic template.
HOW WE HELP
Estate Planning Practice Areas
As Louisiana estate planning attorneys, we help individuals and families establish clear, legally sound plans that guide loved ones through the process when a death occurs.
Wills & Testamentary Trusts
A will is the foundation of most estate plans. It identifies who receives your assets, who is responsible for carrying out your requests, and who will care for your minor children if something happens to you. We draft wills that clearly reflect your intent and comply with Louisiana’s laws.
When additional structure is needed, we incorporate unique estate planning devices into the will.. For instance, a testamentary trust is an irrevocable trust that is created after you die. It helps preserve assets for your beneficiaries and instructs how assets are distributed to them.
Living Trusts
A living trust is a legal structure that holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them after your death without going through probate. This can provide faster access for your family and greater privacy than a will alone. We help clients determine whether a trust is appropriate for their situation and ensure it is structured and funded correctly so it functions as intended.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to make financial, healthcare or legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. Without one, your family may need to seek court authority, which takes time and money at exactly the wrong moment. We prepare durable powers of attorney tailored to your circumstances so the right person can act quickly when necessary.
Successions
In Louisiana, the legal process for transferring a deceased person’s assets to their heirs is called a succession. It is governed by state-specific rules that differ from other states, especially for families with complex assets or blended family structures. We guide executors and heirs through the succession administration, handle the required court filings, and keep matters moving so families are not left waiting longer than necessary.
Business Continuity Planning
If you own a business or hold a significant interest in one, your estate plan must address what happens to that business if you die or become unable to manage it. Without clear documentation, ownership can become disputed and value can erode quickly. We review how your business interests are structured, coordinate your estate plan with operating agreements and buy-sell provisions, and ensure the individuals chosen by you are legally able to operate the business in your place.
Estate Administration
After a death, someone must manage the legal and administrative work of settling the estate. This includes notifying creditors, filing required documents with the court, managing estate assets, and ultimately distributing what remains to heirs. We assist personal representatives through each step, helping them meet their obligations efficiently and avoid the missteps that delay distribution or create personal liability.
GET IN TOUCH
Talk With an Estate Planning Lawyer
A well-designed estate plan gives you control over what happens next and provides your family with clarity when it matters most. Tell us about your situation and we will help you understand your options and put a practical plan in place.
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