Gonzales Estate Planning Lawyer

Gonzales Estate Planning Attorney

Regardless of your health status or financial standing, it’s never a bad idea to consider creating an estate plan. It may sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be with the right Gonzales estate planning lawyer on your side. Field Law is here to help.

Elder law is what our attorneys do. We’re confident we can help with your estate planning needs so you can feel confident about your future. Estate planning lets you draw up the blueprint for the rest of your life, as well as what happens once you’re gone. Our goal is to make this process as simple and stress-free as possible.

Why Estate Planning Matters for Everyone

Estate planning is not reserved only for those who are preparing for death—it is about ensuring your wishes are respected if you’re ever unable to speak for yourself. In Louisiana, more than 36% of adults live with some kind of disability, which highlights how unexpected health events are more common than most people realize.

That need is only going to grow, as the population of residents aged 60 or older in Louisiana is projected to be nearly 25% by 2030. Despite these facts, only about one-third of adults nationwide have a current will or estate plan.

Unexpected events—like serious accidents—can happen at any time. That’s why it’s important to have a plan in place, regardless of your age or stage of life. At Field Law, we offer comprehensive legal guidance and personally tailored strategies to help each and every one of our clients.

What’s Involved in Estate Planning in Gonzales?

Having an estate plan is critical for addressing your wishes for your assets, end-of-life care, finances, and what happens after you die. There are many different aspects of estate planning that you can focus on to secure your financial future. Some of the most common things our team at Field Law has addressed in estate planning cases include:

• Health care power of attorney. This type of power of attorney can help protect the decisions you make about what to do when your health begins to decline. You can give instructions about your healthcare that must legally be followed.
• Medicaid planning. Many people rely on Medicaid to cover the cost of their long-term nursing home care and other healthcare expenses as they continue to get older. The application process for Medicaid in Louisiana can be strict, so it’s important to be prepared and have all the right information ready to go. Our Gonzales estate planning lawyers can show you how to protect your assets while still qualifying for coverage.
• Power of attorney. A general power of attorney, also known as a mandate in Louisiana, allows you to authorize someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. It is important to note that a mandate ends a death—it does not give anyone authority to manage your estate after you pass away.
• Trusts. By placing assets in a trust, you can potentially avoid succession or at least reduce the number of assets that must go through it. Succession is the legal process of transferring assets from a decedent to their heirs. It’s similar to probate, which is used in many other states.
• Wills and testaments. These go into effect only after the decedent dies. It’s important to note that wills in Louisiana must be notarized with an attestation clause. When you pass away, your will enters succession. This is where the court validates the will and transfers assets to their designated heirs.

A Gonzales estate planning lawyer can offer personalized care that is customized to meet your needs. At Field Law, we have experience working on estate plans for blended families, LGBTQIA+ families, pets, and unmarried couples.

No matter the details of your financial situation, you can count on our estate planning lawyers in Gonzales to help you get everything sorted.

FAQs

Q: Do I Have to Work With a Gonzales Estate Planning Lawyer?

A: You’re not required to work with an estate planning lawyer, but it can be very helpful to have a legal professional on your side. Your attorney can evaluate your finances and come up with a personalized plan to secure everything. They can help you put the right documents together and explain any complicated concepts that may come up along the way.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Work With a Gonzales Estate Planning Lawyer?

A: The cost of working with a Gonzales estate planning lawyer can vary depending on the details of your financial situation. Simple estates with straightforward solutions for assets are much easier to handle than complex estates with high-end assets going to a blended family after the decedent’s death. Estate planning lawyers typically either charge an hourly rate or a flat fee. Some do both.

Q: What Is the Difference Between a Gonzales Estate Lawyer and an Estate Planner?

A: Estate planners and estate planning lawyers both deal with estates, but they offer different types of services. Estate planning focuses on the broad aspects of transferring assets and planning end-of-life care, while an estate planning lawyer manages all the legal aspects involved in the process to ensure these plans are legally sound.

Q: What Is the Five-by-Five Rule in Estate Planning?

A: The five-by-five rule refers to the limits put on a beneficiary’s rights under a trust. This rule establishes a beneficiary’s annual power to withdraw money from a trust. It’s commonly used when a settlor prefers to distribute trust assets to the beneficiary gradually rather than in a single lump sum. It provides more control and flexibility over an estate, which can make everyone’s life easier.

Reach Out to Our Gonzales Estate Planning Lawyer to Secure Your Financial Future

It’s never too early to start estate planning, especially when you have access to a Gonzales estate planning lawyer right here at Field Law. Our founding attorney, Morgan Field, has over a decade of experience in this area of law. Our team is confident we can use our skills and experience to develop a strategy that works with your finances.

Estate planning is complex, but it can be simpler with the right team on your side. If you’re ready to discuss your case, contact our team to set up an appointment with a Gonzales estate planning lawyer today.