Estate Planning in Monroe, LA

Practices

Most people put off estate planning, as it is an uncomfortable subject. Though peering into the future and planning for the inevitabilities of life has the potential to be depressing, doing so is necessary. 

Niswanger Law’s estate planning attorneys in Monroe, LA are here to perform estate planning on your behalf. 

Tap into our law firm’s expertise and you’ll have the will, trusts, power of attorney, and other necessary estate planning documents in place. These tools will ultimately empower you to transition through your golden years with an invaluable peace of mind.

Download our free guide: "Top 7 Critical Family Estate Planning Tools

How We Help With Estate Planning

  • Last wills & testaments to direct the transfer of your property at your death;

  • Trusts, whether testamentary or inter vivos, & revocable or irrevocable, to hold & manage property during your life or after death;

  • NFA gun trusts;

  • Special needs trusts;

  • Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income eligibility planning;

  • Powers of attorney, whether general or limited to medical, financial, real estate, or child custody, to appoint someone to handle these matters for you;

  • Living wills to state your wishes regarding life support;

  • Minimizing estate, gift, & generation-skipping transfer taxes;

  • Asset protection planning to limit your exposure to creditors, predators, lawsuits, etc.;

  • And much more!

Estate Planning the Right Way

There is a common misconception that one only needs a handwritten will to bequeath assets to loved ones and charities at the time of death. 

The truth is, Louisiana and other states have highly nuanced rules on the idiosyncrasies of last wills and testaments. 

If your will, trust, power of attorney, or other estate planning document is not created by an experienced estate planning attorney, it probably won’t be recognized as valid in a court of law. 

Failing to create a legally bulletproof will ultimately trigger the probate process that will inevitably chew up your family’s time and energy.

There is no guarantee a Louisiana probate court will recognize your desires for the distribution of your assets. 

The probate process may lead to your assets being distributed to individuals you no longer love or appreciate. It is also possible that a DIY or poorly written will might trigger a challenge from a family member. 

Niswanger Law in Monroe, LA is here to prevent such outcomes with estate planning that provides you and your loved ones with confidence and certainty. 

Our estate planning services apply to personal assets, such as investments, houses, automobiles, boats, and businesses.

Examples of Our Estate Planning Services

Though every Monroe, LA resident certainly needs a will, a will alone might not suffice. Every adult should have a comprehensive estate plan. 

The plan should include a last will and testament, a power of attorney, a trust, and other estate planning legal tools. The purpose of the last will and testament is to transmit assets to loved ones, friends, and charities at the time of death.

Lean on Niswanger Law for a trust, be it an inter vivos trust, testamentary trust, or revocable/irrevocable trust. 

You’ll rest easy knowing you have done your part to hold and manage assets so they are well-preserved for others. Our trusts services also extend to special needs trusts and NFA gun trusts.

Estate planning extends well beyond safeguarding assets you have worked so hard to earn. 

Though no one wants to think about the prospect of becoming incapacitated, doing so is in your interest. You need a durable medical power of attorney document in place well ahead of your final years, ensuring a trusted individual can make healthcare decisions on your behalf.

A financial power of attorney also sets the stage for a loved one or other trusted individual to make prudent financial decisions if you develop dementia or can no longer make reasonable financial decisions for another reason. 

Powers of attorney also appoint individuals to make decisions on child custody and real estate.

Estate Planning by Niswanger Law in Monroe, LA. Image of a senior signing last will and testament with a lawyer.

Additional Benefits of Professional Estate Planning

If you don’t plan ahead, your hard-earned money and assets will be heavily taxed upon death. 

Niswanger Law has the knowledge and experience necessary to minimize gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes so that your family retains as much money as possible. 

Our asset protection planning even goes as far as putting legal protections in place to mitigate exposure to creditors and nefarious individuals looking to make a quick buck.

Contact Niswanger Law for Estate Planning

The time has come to establish a last will and testament, power of attorney, trust, and other estate planning documents. 

Give Niswanger Law in Monroe, LA a call today at (318) 953-0071 to schedule your estate planning consultation. You can also reach us online through our contact form.

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