OVERRULED With Scott Vicknair
IN THIS ISSUE
What Non-Probate Lawyers Need to Know About Probate
Ifyou’vebeenpracticinglawforanylengthoftime, you’velikelyreceivedacallfromafriendorrelative seekingguidanceonaprobateissue Evenifprobate isn’tyourareaofexpertise,asanattorney,people expectyoutohaveananswer.
InLouisiana,probate,oraswecallit,succession,is simplytheprocessoftransferringadeceasedperson’s assetstotheirheirs Whileit’softenstraightforward, successioncanquicklybecomeaheadacheifthere aredisputesoranunclearplan.Here’swhatevery non-probatelawyershouldknowwhenthatinevitable callcomes
WhenIsProbateRequired?
InLouisiana,successionisusuallyrequiredunlessthe deceased’sassetsweresetuptotransfer automatically Examplesofassetsthattypicallydonot requireprobateinclude:
Retirementaccountswithbeneficiarydesignations (eg,IRAs,401Ks,403Bs)
Insuranceproductswithbeneficiarydesignations (e.g.,lifeinsurance,annuities)
Payable-on-deathaccounts(ifsetupcorrectly)
Assetsownedbyatrust
Anyassetsoutsidethecategoriesaboveownedbythe deceasedwillrequireasuccessiontotransfer ownership.
TwoPaths:SimpleorComplex
Louisianaofferstwoprimarytypesofprobate procedures:
SmallSuccession–Streamlinedprocessthatapplies iftheestateisvaluedat$125,000orlessandeveryone iscooperating Handledthroughanaffidavitand avoidscourt FullSuccession–Requiredforlargerestates.Involves filingcourtpleadings,maybeappointingan administrator,andgettingjudicialapprovalto liquidateordistributeassets
PotentialComplications
Eveninseeminglysimplecases,probatecanuncover hiddenissuesthatcomplicatematters Herearesome issuestowatchoutfor:
MissingHeirs–Theprobateprocesscanstallifan heirismissing. IllegitimateChildren–allbiologicalchildrenhave inheritancerights Thiscanleadtounexpectedclaims againsttheestate.
TheOriginalWill–Louisianacourtsrequirethe originalsignedwill,notacopy.Ifmissing,there’sa presumptionthatitwasrevokedunlessevidence suggestsotherwise DisagreementsOverKeepingorSellingPropertyCo-ownershipofinheritedpropertyoftenleadsto disputes.Oneheirmaywanttokeepafamilyhome, whileothersprefertosell Thiscouldleadtoforced partitionlawsuits UnresolvedDebts–Heirsoftenassumetheyinherit assetsfreeandclear,butcreditorshaverightstoo. Unpaiddebtscanfollowintothehandsoftheheirs
Understandingthesebasics willhelpwhenyougetthat callaskingforyour guidance
No matter where you stand politically, one issue brings people together: tackling inefficiency and wasteful government spending. With the Trump administration prioritizing fiscal responsibility, the spotlight is on the ballooning national debt and rising federal expenditures
Brad and David dive into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the staggering numbers behind government waste They’ll explore how spending has outpaced GDP growth, highlight unnecessary expenditures, and discuss what can be done to bring accountabilitytoelectedofficials.
Shiftinggears,BradandDavidhadthepleasureofchattingwithScot Craig,executivechefandco-owneroftwobelovedlocalrestaurants: Katie’sandFrancesca.
Scot shares how Katie’s became a Mid-City staple, what it takes to run a successful restaurant in the Big Easy, and how he navigated challenges like Hurricane Katrina. Plus, they talk Super Bowl, food culture,andwhatmakesNewOrleansdiningtrulyone-of-a-kind
HOPE'S KITCHEN
Mom’sBlackberryCobbler
Fruit Filling
5 to 6 C blackberries
A little less than ½ C flour
1 ¼ C sugar
1/8 tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
½ tsp almond extract
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
Double-Crust Pastry
2 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 C plus 2 Tbsp shortening
4 to 5 Tbsp ice water
2 Tbsp butter for topping
Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle ice water, 1 Tbsp at a time, evenly over surface. Stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape into a ball. Chill until ready to use.
Combine all ingredients for blackberry filling.
Roll half of pastry to 1/8” thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into a 9” square. Spoon half of blackberries into a lightly buttered 9” square pan. Top with pastry square. Bake at 475° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Reduce oven to 425°. Spoon remaining blackberry filling over baked pastry square. Roll remaining pastry to 1/8” thickness and cut into 1” strips. Arrange in lattice design on top of fruit. Top with pats of butter
Bake 30 – 40 minutes more or until bubbly and browned
Check at 20 minutes; cover crust with foil if browning too much.
OurFirmsuccessfullyrepresenteda clientinanunpaidwagedispute, overcomingdelaysandan unsuccessfulattemptbytheopposing partytorecusethejudge.Thetrial concludedwithadecisive$383,469.26 judgment,includingunpaidwages, penaltywages,andattorneyfees, deliveringjusticeforourclient
1.SendyourPersonalInjury& SuccessioncallerstoScottVicknair: Whenyourintaketeamgetsacallfrom someoneinjuredinanaccidentordealing withestateissues,havethemgathersome basicdetailsaboutthecaller(andalso providethemwithourdirectintakeline 504-977-2044).Yourintaketeamcansend theinformationto referrals@scottvicknair.com.
2.ReferredClientSignswithScott Vicknair:
Ourintaketeamwillcontactthereferred client(iftheydon’tcallusfirst),andwe’ll starttheonboardingprocess.Whenthe referredclientsigns,ourteamwillcontact yourfirmandletyouknow.Asalways,we willmakeyoutheHEROintheeyesofthe clientthroughoutthecase
3.WeHandletheirLegalIssueand MakeYoutheHERO:
ScottVicknairwillensuretheclientknows thatthereferringlawfirm(YOU)are playingasignificantroleinhelpingthem byconnectingthemtotherightattorney andrestoringtheirpeaceofmind.Wewill keepyouinvolvedthroughoutthecase, andtelltheclientiftheyeverhavelegal issuestocontactyourfirmfirst.
Embrace the Bad Shit
Afternineyearsofbuildingalaw firm,here’sonethingIknow:bad stuffisgoingtohappen. Somebodyquitsattheworst possibletime.TheCourtrules againstusonacriticalmotion. Aninterpersonalconflictflaresup inthefirm.Keyplayerswillfighta keychangetothebusiness
Thelistgoeson.Idecidedayear ortwoagothatIcouldtryto avoidbadthingsfrom happening,butitwouldequate tothedefinitionofinsanity (doingthesamething repeatedlyandexpecting
differentresults) Problemsarise thatIcannotstoporcontrol I havecometorealizethatthetrick islearninghowtodealwith, respondto,andusethatbadstuff asalearningandtraining opportunityforyouandyour teamtogrow.
Iseehownavigatingdifficult times,solvingproblems,and learningfrommymistakes improvemyprocessingskillsand decision-making.It’snotaneasy mindsetshiftandtakesconsistent remindersandwork.Ifeelfearon aregularbasis.I’mafraidthata problemmightcomeupthatI can’tsolve Butyoucan’tleada teamorrepresentclientsfroma placeoffear
So,embracethebadshitanduse itsobothyouandyourentire teamcanlearnfromit.
David Vicknair