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Best Probate Lawyers in Lake Charles

2023

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Website
1318 Ryan St, St Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Badon Law Firm offers legal counsel and representation for clients in the Lake Charles area, as well as throughout the state of Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado. The firm's attorneys have more than 47 years of combined legal experience and offer help with successions and estate planning. While navigating the probate process, this firm helps clients carefully take care of all administrative duties, including the preparation of tax returns and ensuring that assets transfer smoothly to lawful heirs.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kenneth Badon - Partner52 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
901 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 900, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Scofield Gerard Pohorelsky, Gallaugher & Landry Attorneys at Law represents clients and nationwide law firms in Lake Charles. The firm offers estate planning services such as guidance in wills and creation and update and development of business succession plans. Its lawyers provide strategies in creating trusts, focusing on wealth preservation, and minimizing estate taxes. The origins of the firm date back to 1876. One of its lawyers, Scott Scofield was included in Top Lawyers by Acadiana Profile.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Scott Scofield - Partner39 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1827 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Bryant & Sigler, LLC assists residents in Lake Charles and nearby areas with legal matters such as estate planning, trusts, successions, and wills. The law firm's other areas of practice include criminal defense, appellate advocacy, family law, business litigation, legal writing, and personal injury. Its team has more than six decades of combined experience. In 2008, Rick Bryant left his work at the Office of the District Attorney to fully devote himself to private practice at Bryant & Sigler.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (10)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
518 Pujo Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Lorenzi & Barnatt LLC is a law firm that employs an estate planning attorney in Lake Charles. When handling probate and successions, the firm's attorneys exclusively deal in small successions totaling less than $125,000 when a surviving spouse is the executor of the will. In addition to small successions, Lorenzi & Barnatt LLC also offers estate planning services, as well as criminal defense. Partner Theresa Ann Barnatt holds memberships in a variety of professional organizations, including the American and Louisiana Bar Associations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Thomas Lorenzi - Partner48 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
113 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate
  • Living Wills

Why choose this provider?

Loftin & LeBlanc LLC Attorneys at Law in Lake Charles has been providing legal representation for its clients since 2006. The firm's areas of practice include family law, corporate or business law, personal injury claims, real estate law, and probate of wills and trusts. Loftin & LeBlanc LLC Attorneys at Law assists clients with the estate planning process from drafting a will to solving estate and succession disputes including checking the validity of a will and trust.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Billy Loftin - Partner32 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Facebook
4.9 / 5 (78)
Yelp
4.4 / 5 (33)
Google
4.9 / 5 (16)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
924 Hodges Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Timothy O'Dowd, Attorney at Law, represents Lake Charles clients in estate, succession, and probate matters. It prepares last wills and testaments and settles issues regarding the interpretation of clauses in the will, the competency of the testator, and allegations of undue influence on the will's creator. Principal lawyer Timothy O’Dowd litigates cases in federal and state courts, including commercial disputes, domestic relations cases, and personal injury claims. He also handles bankruptcy, tax, and criminal matters.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Google
4.6 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1801 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Michael R. Garber Attorney at Law has more than 35 years of experience helping clients in Lake Charles and throughout the city's neighboring areas. Mr. Garber assists in a variety of estate-related matters, including helping will executors to navigate the probate process. He and his legal team assist with administrative tasks such as filing estate taxes and notifying creditors, as well as with the distribution of assets to the deceased's lawful heirs.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michael Garber - Principal49 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
803 West Bayou Pines Drive, Suite D, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Tom Shea Family Law, LLC, is a legal office in Lake Charles that helps residents through complicated legal issues, such as wills, estate planning, and divorce. The attorney helps clients create a legal will and testament that protects their assets and minimizes conflicts. He also develops an estate plan that ensures that assets are managed according to their wishes. Shea has an academic background in business, law, and taxation. He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Tom Shea - Principal12 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
630 Kirby Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Estate Settlement

Why choose this provider?

Sigler, Arabie, & Cannon Attorneys at Law LLC handles successions and probate on behalf of clients in the Lake Charles metropolitan area. This firm's attorneys are focused on ensuring that clients are able to navigate this process quickly so that they may distribute assets to lawful heirs as soon as possible after the death of a loved one. Sigler, Arabie, & Cannon handles testate and intestate successions, as well as probate cases involving contested wills.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
David Sigler - Partner52 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (12)
Google
4.6 / 5 (8)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
411 Clarence Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Drost Law Firm, located in Lake Charles, offers a range of legal services, including succession and probate assistance. It helps clients in drafting wills, planning trusts, arranging estate administration, and managing donations. The legal office also offers legal assistance to clients in real estate and business transactions. The founding attorney, Skipper M. Drost, established the practice in 1987. He also served as a city attorney and prosecutor for the City of Sulphur from 1988 to 2010.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Skipper Drost - Managing Partner45 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Facebook
4.5 / 5 (11)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Lake Charles, Louisiana?

    Call (337) 491-1456 to report non-emergencies to the local police station in Lake Charles.

  • Can heirs inherit funds from insurance policies in Lake Charles?

    No, heirs cannot inherit funds from insurance policies in Lake Charles. However, if the heirs are specifically named as beneficiaries in the policy, they can access the funds. It's important to note that even if the will specifies that the money should go to the heirs, the state will allocate the funds to the individuals named as beneficiaries in the policy. This rule also applies to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

  • Is it possible to prevent a family member from inheriting a property when someone passes away in Lake Charles?

    Yes, it is possible to prevent a family member from inheriting a property when someone passes away in Lake Charles. However, valid reasons must be provided according to state laws. These include instances where the relative has a history of abusive behavior, poses a threat to others, or has been convicted or accused of a serious crime resulting in a life sentence. Additionally, individuals who have intentionally severed communication for the past two years or minors who got married without permission may be excluded from inheriting properties.

  • Can children of deceased people in Lake Charles challenge a will that does not include their names?

    Yes, children of deceased people in Lake Charles can challenge a will without their names. Under state laws, children are entitled to inherit properties when their parent passes away. In such cases, they can argue that the omission was unintentional, especially if there are no other reasons for their exclusion.

  • Do stepchildren have the right to inherit their stepparents' properties in Lake Charles?

    Yes, stepchildren in Lake Charles have the right to inherit their stepparents' properties under certain conditions. As per state laws, stepchildren must be either legally adopted by their stepparent or specifically named as a beneficiary in the will. Additionally, the decision to include a stepchild as an heir must be made voluntarily by the creator of the will and not under any form of coercion or pressure.

  • Do ex-spouses in Lake Charles have the right to inherit the properties of their former partners who have passed away?

    No, ex-spouses in Lake Charles do not have the right to inherit the properties of their former partners who have passed away even if their name appears in the will. Once a divorce is legally finalized, Louisiana law does not recognize the ex-spouse as a beneficiary in the will. However, complications may arise if the property is located in another state. In such cases, the probate and inheritance laws of that specific state will be followed to determine the distribution of assets.

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