When someone passes away without a clear estate plan in Louisiana, state law determines how property is distributed. While those rules work for many traditional family structures, they often don’t reflect the intentions of blended families.

Many people put off creating a will because it feels uncomfortable or overwhelming. Others assume their wishes are obvious and that their family will figure things out later. Unfortunately, that’s not always how it works, especially under Louisiana law. If you’re thinking about creating or updating your will, here are three essential things every Louisiana family should make sure it includes.

The start of a new year is when many of us take stock of our lives. We clean out closets, recommit to healthier habits, and make plans for the months ahead. But one important item often gets pushed to the bottom of the list: estate planning.

You don’t need to have everything perfectly figured out before calling an estate planning attorney. You just need a few key pieces of information and a willingness to talk through your goals.

When I meet with clients to talk about their estate plans, the conversation often turns to family. For many grandparents, their greatest joy is seeing their grandchildren thrive. And for some, that means making sure education is part of their legacy.