Estate Planning Law Firm of Louisiana

Busy (But Exciting) Couple Of Weeks

It's been a hectic couple of weeks at our office lately.

• 4/5/08 - Seminar and Book Signing at Barnes and Noble. Lots of people showed up. In fact, Barnes and Noble had loaded up on books for the book signing, and they called today for another big shipment.
• Weekend of 4/5/08 and 4/6/08 - My five kids had a total of 16 ball games during the weekend. This doesn't have much to do with my office work, but I thought I'd add it because it was a record number of games for one weekend.
• 4/9/08 - First ever "Free Living Will Wednesday." We had a steady stream of folks come into the office to get their free Louisiana Living Will Declaration. It was a pleasure providing this free service. Several attendees, however, realized that they needed additional estate planning legal services so we'll be working with those folks in the upcoming days.
• 4/10/08 - Seminar at new Livingston Parish library. Good crowd. Lots of questions. In fact, one of the attendees came by the office the next day to have me help him settle his dad's revocable living trust that had been established many years ago.
• 4/13/08 - It's the birthday for my star paralegal, Stephanie Purdy. On 4/16/08, I'm taking the whole office out to lunch to celebrate.
• 4/14/08 - We enrolled over a dozen new members in our VIP Membership so our best clients (and their families) can get Preferred Client treatment for the rest of their lifetime. Ask us about our VIP Membership.
• 4/19/08 - The big Life After 50 Expo is coming up. I'll be presenting in the Main Exhibit room. I expect a lively audience. I'm giving away my book to the first 75 in attendance. Better get there early.
• 4/23/08 - New Medicaid Planning Seminars at our office (10:00am) and the Baton Rouge Garden Center (6:30pm). Brand new material based on newly issued Medicaid regulations. Seating is limited so make your reservation by calling Laura at 225-329-2450.

I heard a quote today that I liked, "If you want to make a difference, be different." There's not another business in the world that combines our attributes. You'll find our group courteous, exciting, friendly, progressive, hard-working, intelligent, professional , loyal, and committed.

You may the subject of estate planning is rather bland, but we've got some exciting and incredible stuff coming up that will do wonders for families in Louisiana. Stay tuned!

Paul Rabalais

Another Speaking Engagement Tonight

I spoke at the new Livingston Parish library this evening. They had a couple of my books on their shelf and they called and asked if I'd come speak to their community about estate planning.

The facility was awesome and the crowd was great. Many of the pre-seminar questions had to do with living wills, powers of an executor, benefits of trusts, tax consequences of trusts, estate tax, and probate avoidance.

All in all, it was a good evening.

Paul Rabalais

Teleseminar a Big Success

Hosted a teleseminar last Thursday to teach listeners the new Medicaid Eligibility Rules issued last month by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. I spend most of the teleseminar reviewing both the rules that have not changed, along with the important new rule changes. As expected, the important component now is to PLAN EARLY!

How early? Well, even under the new rules, you can protect your entire estate if you engage in the proper planning at least five years before you need Louisiana long term care Medicaid. If you don't have five years, you can still protect a large part of your estate using newly created Medicaid planning tools we developed since these new rules have been enacted.

Thanks to Roland Cheramie for his comments after the teleseminar: " Joyce and I would like to thank you again for the excellent presentation.  This was a great review, and also an update on current activities, new regulations etc.  It is also refreshing listening to others share questions. This presentation was very professional, and easy to understand this complicated process.  We viewed your outline on our computer monitor, and listened on our amplified speaker system in the convenience of our family room.  What a way.....great job.....lets have more in the future.!"

If you'd like us to make you aware of future educational presentations, and include you in our e-newsletter, Your Estate Matters, simply send me an e-mail at paul@rabalaislaw.com, or give us a call at 225-329-2450.

Paul Rabalais

Come See Us At the Life After 50 Expo

I'll be an Exhibitor at the Life After 50 Expo sponsored by The Advocate & WBRZ Channel 2, on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at the Baton Rouge River Center Exhibition Hall. There's free admission, free parking, and lots of free valuable information.

Come by, visit our booth, and chat with me, our paralegals, Stephanie Purdy and Laura Bittel, and attorney James Vilas. We'll be there to answer any questions you have and provide you with important information to help you protect your family and your estate. See you there!

Paul Rabalais

Book Signing at Barnes & Noble

I'm flattered that Barnes & Noble Booksellers has asked me to do a Book Signing at their new Perkins Rowe location in Baton Rouge. They will be selling copies of my new book, "Estate Planning in Louisiana, A Layman's Guide To Understanding Wills, Trusts, Probate, Power of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Wills & Taxes."

Come visit me on Saturday, April 5, at 6:00pm. I've been in the new bookstore a couple of times and it is always crowded with booklovers. I'm looking forward to this event and I look forward to seeing you there.

Paul Rabalais

Another Standing Room Only Crowd

Great audience and great questions and last night's Estate and Medicaid Planning seminar. Some of the written comments about what impressed attendees the most included:

"Straight Forward Information in Layman's Terms."

"It was good to hear the rules of Medicaid."

"Knowledge of instructor."

"Professional presentation."

"Excellent info / Give and take / casual / easy tone / humor."

"Information about Medicaid Living Trust."

If you missed the seminar and you would like to purchase a copy of the seminar that was recorded in DVD format, simply contact our office at (225) 329-2450. While supplies last and for a limited time, you can purchase a DVD of the seminar for $149.

Paul Rabalais

Standing Room Only Crowd At Seminar

It was a standing room only crowd this morning for our Estate and Medicaid Planning seminar. Some of the written comments from seminar attendees include:

"Valuable and useful info in short time period."

"Good presentation."

"Pertinent info. Well presented."

"Fast moving but well organized."

"Informative, well presented."

"Good information."

"Appropriateness of topics."

"Open, Fast Moving, Good Summary, Friendly."

Thanks for all that attended. You asked some great questions. If you didn't attend but want to know more about estate and Medicaid planning in Louisiana, contact us at 225-329-2450.

Paul Rabalais

Paul Rabalais Hosting Free Seminars

Just a few seats remain for our upcoming seminars scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, 2008. At these seminars, you will discover how to:

Avoid estate tax (even after the year 2010);
Protect your assets from the rising cost of long term care;
Protect your children's inheritance from their past or future divorces;
Discover whether a Revocable Living Trust makes sense for you;
Avoid succession attorney fees;
Pass along your values and feelings (not just your assets) to your family; and
Make sure your estate planning documents stay current for your lifetime.

You'll discover all of this and much more in one jam-packed hour of information. You may have seen this seminar advertised in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

You can attend either of the two seminars. The location and times are as follows:

Wednesday, January 23
10:00am - 11:00am
6230 Perkins Road
Campus Federal Credit Union Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

-or-

Wednesday, January 23
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Baton Rouge Garden Center
7950 Independence Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Bring a Friend Bonus. If you bring a guest, I'll give both you and your guest a free, autographed copy of my recently published book, Estate Planning in Louisiana, A Layman's Guide To Understanding Wills, Trusts, Probate, Power of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Wills & Taxes.

How To Register? Simply call my office at (225) 329-2450. We'll make sure you're registered. If you're bringing a guest, make sure you tell us that when you register so we'll have your autographed books ready for you when you arrive.

I look forward to seeing you.

P.S.  I was quoted often in an article published this week by the Baton Rouge Business Report titled, Preserving Your Legacy. Check it out at: http://www.businessreport.com/news/2008/jan/14/preserving-your-legacy-fnc1/

We'll see you on the 23rd at either 10:00am or 6;30pm. Just call (225) 329-2450 to get Registered for this Free event.

Paul Rabalais

Estate Attorney Speaks To Investment Advisors

I had an opportunity yesterday to speak to a group of 15 investment advisors in the local office of a national investment firm. They appeared receptive to what I had to say. It was interesting to hear some of their questions that they asked me during our discussion. A few of the questions (along with my answers) are as follows:

Question: Paul, is there anything that you can recommend that we can give or show our clients that will answer questions like, "Do I need a Will?" or "What happens if I die without a Will?"

Answer: There a great book out called, Estate Planning in Louisiana: A Layman's Guide To Understanding WIlls, Trusts, Probate, Power of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Wills & Taxes." It's an easy read. I'll make sure you have one in your hand before I leave today.

Question: Paul, our home office discourages us from talking to our clients about Medicaid. Why is that?

Answer: Medicaid Planning is complicated. Advising your client to arrange their affairs in a way to qualify for Medicaid and protect their estate from the cost of long term care may constitute the rendering of legal advice which investment advisors (or any non-attorneys) may not do without violating the law.

Question: How can people effectively plan for Medicaid if they own annuities and IRAs?

Answer: It's possible, but more difficult. Some annuities may be transferred to grantor trusts without incurring taxes or surrender charges, but an IRA must be distributed to the IRA owner before it can be transferred to an individual or a trust.

Question: Is it true that if parents (with no Will) and children die in a common disaster, that the families' assets will go to the State of Louisiana.

Answer: Not likely. If the parents had siblings, the assets will go to those siblings (or other relatives if no siblings exist).

I made a few predictions about the future of estate planning. I predicted that the internet will have a greater impact, particularly because there are so many death-disposition alternatives and that certain investment companies are already permitting beneficiary designation changes online. I also predicted that video recordings will play a greater role in the future.

We then discussed how financial advisors and estate planning attorneys can work together to benefit the client and create long-term relationships between the attorney, the advisor, and the client. It was good stuff.

Until next time...

Paul Rabalais

In Case You Missed It

Two outstanding, well-attended seminars yesterday. Thanks to all who attended. It seems that most of the questions from the audience centered around how to protect the home, other real estate, and financial assets from having to be consumed by nursing home costs. Several in the audience had parents who were paying in excess of $4,000 monthly for nursing home costs. My answer: Plan ahead -utilizing our Medicaid Planning strategies which were expained at the seminar.

Some of the written comments from yesterday's seminars include:

"Informative. The knowledge imparted was precise and precious."

"A lot of information clearly presented."

"Very thorough for the short time allowed."

"Lots of information. Especially on Taxes and Medicaid."