Last Will and Testament: The Legal Jargon

Understand Wills with Your Bossier City Attorney in Shreveport, LA

When you are thinking about the future, it can be difficult and emotional to consider the worst case scenario. However, doing so can allow you to properly prepare and protect your loved ones and property should something come to pass. If you are beginning to plan for the future and draft your will, it can be helpful to understand what happens if you do not have a will in place. To fully understand how your own property will be divided, seek legal advice from a lawyer. Take the timely steps involved with creating wills and follow your Bossier City lawyer’s recommendations that are suited to your unique situation.

Before explaining how property is divided, it is important to understand usufruct. Usufruct is the right to the property of another person. It includes money, property, houses, furniture, vehicles, and other belongings. This right is established by a will, contract or the law if the individual has not prepared a will. The surviving spouse will have usufruct if no will has been created at the time of death.

Here are the basics of how property is passed on with and without a will:

  • At Death, Without a Will: The entire estate will go to the children. If the children are no longer living, the grandchildren will receive the estate. A surviving spouse will have usufruct over community property, so the children’s inheritance will be determined by this and re-examined when the surviving spouse dies or remarries. If there are no children, the deceased’s property will be given to the surviving spouse, parents, or brothers and sisters.
  • At Death, With a Will: The will determines the way the estate will be passed on. It should include the naming of executors, trustees and tutors and be a reflection of the deceased person’s wishes. The will should also take into account the possibility of different events, such as people dying in different orders or other familial considerations. It may extend or deny a surviving spouse’s usufruct. Other restrictions, such as delaying inheritance until a certain age, can also be included in a will.

Prepare Your Will with a Lawyer in Bossier City, Louisiana

David L. White and his team of experienced legal professionals are here to answer your questions about wills or help you prepare your own. With years of experience and knowledgeable, understanding support, we can define the terms of your will to protect your estate and legacy.

Speak with your lawyer in Shreveport, Louisiana to handle your will and give you peace of mind. Give us a call today at 318-747-7023.