The Law Office of Adam S. Lambert

   3531 Plymouth Place
   New Orleans, LA  70131-7162
   Tel. (504) 433-0289 • Email: lsulawyer@aol.com

WILLS, SUCCESSIONS, ESTATES,
LIVING WILLS, AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Mr. Lambert has handled succession and estate issues his entire career.  He has helped countless individuals through some of the toughest times in their lives by placing them into legal ownership of their deceased family's property quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.  Most successions can be completed within a couple of weeks and Mr. Lambert charges a low flat fee for most successions.  In most cases, the heirs don't even need to come to court.  Mr. Lambert can file the succession, obtain the final Judgment of Possession, and even record the Judgment in the Conveyance Records all without the need to bother the grieving heirs.  Handling successions is one of Mr. Lambert's specialties and one of his favorite areas of law, as he can do so much for so many people in on of their deepest hours of need.

As Mr. Lambert knows from his years of practice in the area of Successions, nearly everyone should have a Last Will & Testament.  A Last Will & Testament tells your heirs (and the courts) how YOU want your property divided after your death.  If you do not have a will, the courts (not you) decide who gets what.  Having a Last Will & Testament gives you and your heirs peace of mind and makes a difficult time for your family a lot less difficult.

A Power of Attorney is also a useful tool these days.  With our Baby Boomers getting older, many families have asked Mr. Lambert's assistance with handling their parents and grandparents' affairs in their golden years.  Powers of Attorney are a great tool for this and Mr. Lambert can draft one for your family and even notarize it for you quickly and for a low flat fee.  In most cases, Mr. Lambert will even come to you to notarize the document if your family member does not travel well.

A Living Will has also become a necessity these days.  It tells doctors, hospitals, family and friends your wishes with regard to treatment, should you ever find yourself in a seriously-debilitated state, like a permanent coma.  Click here to read Mr. Lambert's interview with ABC26 News, concerning Living Wills and the Terry Schiavo case.

Read below for more information about Living Wills, Successions, Powers of Attorney, and more.  If you need to open a succession or draft a will, living will, or power of attorney, or if you would like a copy of one of Mr. Lambert's free brochures about wills, powers of attorney, and living wills, email Mr. Lambert.

I. Living Wills and Medical Powers of Attorney

LIVING WILLS & POWERS OF ATTORNEY

  • A Living Will, sometimes also called  a “Will to Live”, is a type of advance health care directive whereby any adult person may make a written declaration directing the withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining procedures in the event such person should have a terminal and irreversible condition. It tells doctors, hospitals, family, and friends your wishes with regard to treatment to be given to you in certain cases of incapacitating accident or illness, such as coma.

  • A Medical Power of Attorney is simply a Power of Attorney that is limited to the issue of medical decisions.  It grants the agent the authority to make medical decisions, but other powers like selling property, etc.  Read the section below to learn more about Powers of Attorney.

  • Everyone should consider drafting a Will, a Medical (or general) Power of Attorney, and a Living Will.  While those who are elderly or facing serious illness are clearly in immediate need, the Terry Schiavo case showed us that even young people can face serious illness or have an accident. For example, Schiavo suffered her brain injury when she was only in her mid-20s.

The following persons in particular should consider drafting a Will, Living Will, and Medical Power of Attorney immediately:

  • Anyone with children

  • Anyone who is in a marriage where there are children from a previous marriage or previous relationship

  • Anyone who lives with a partner to whom they are not married

  • Anyone who owns their own business or runs a small business with a partner

  • Anyone who has substantial assets

  • Anyone who wants their wishes to be known and honored in the event they cannot speak for themselves due to injury or illness

  • Anyone over the age of 65

  • Anyone facing a major surgery or illness

  • Anyone who is diabetic

  • Anyone who has recently been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, but still has moments of lucidity (their need is ABSOLUTELY IMMEDIATE)

  • Anyone who is suffering from a  heart condition or other condition which could render them in a debilitated state without warning.

  • Anyone in the military, offshore workers, or anyone who is travelling abroad

MEDIA REPORTS

  • Read the story from ABC26 News, who interviewed Mr. Lambert about the need of everyone to have a last will & testament, a living will, and a power of attorney.

  • If you would like a copy of Mr. Lambert's free brochures about wills, powers of attorney, and living wills, email Mr. Lambert to have a copy sent to you.

II.  Successions and Estates

 

SUCCESSION OF CULOTTA

 

LA 5th CIR COURT OF APPEAL

CIVIL CASE NO. 04-1298

 

 

CASE ISSUES & AREAS OF LAW:

  • SUCCESSIONS

  • REMOVAL OF SUCCESSION REPRESENTATIVES

  • CAPACITY TO DONATE PROPERTY IN A WILL

  • UNDUE INFLUENCE IN THE DRAFTING OF WILLS

  • STANDARDS OF JUDICIAL REVIEW

SUCCESSION OF CULOTTA

  • In a rare contested succession, Mr. Lambert successfully defended a succession representative’s right to represent his father’s estate, after it was alleged by a would-be heir that the deceased's last will and testament was invalid.

  • The case was won by Mr. Lambert on appeal.

  • Read the opinion from the Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeal in Succession of Culotta.

 

III. Powers of Attorney

  • A Power of Attorney is simply a document which gives another person authority to act on your behalf in certain situations. 

  • Powers of Attorney can be very broad or very limited, encompassing everything from health care and daily living decision-making to the authority to conduct business affairs and sell property. 

  • Powers of Attorney are very useful for caregivers of the injured, the infirm, and the elderly, who need the authority to make decisions for those they love.  They are also very useful for persons in the military, offshore workers, students away at college, and persons travelling overseas who want to have a designated agent back home to handle their affairs in their absence.

  • Louisiana law has some very specific rules about Powers of Attorney.  You should always have an attorney draft the document.

 

    The following persons in particular should consider drafting a General Power of Attorney immediately:

  • Anyone who lives with a partner to whom they are not married

  • Anyone who owns their own business or runs a small business with a partner

  • Anyone over the age of 65

  • Anyone facing a major surgery or illness

  • Anyone who is diabetic

  • Anyone who has recently been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, but still has moments of lucidity (their need is ABSOLUTELY IMMEDIATE)

  • Anyone who is suffering from a  heart condition or other condition which could render them in a debilitated state without warning.

  • Anyone who works in a dangerous profession

  • Anyone in the military, offshore workers, or anyone who is travelling abroad

    •  

    FOR MORE INFORMATION

  • If you would like a copy of Mr. Lambert's free brochures about wills, powers of attorney, and living wills, email Mr. Lambert to have a copy sent to you.