Table of Contents
Introduction x
About the Authors xiv
Your Family
Marriage 2
Getting Married In Louisiana 2
Covenant Marriage 9
Community Property 10
The Marriage Contract 17
Ending the Community 20
Dividing the Community 21
Divorce 29
Adultery 30
Six Month Separation 34
"102" Divorce 34
Reconciliation 36
Support 38
Names After Divorce 47
Being A Parent 48
Custody 48
Visitation 60
Relocation 61
Child Support 62
Rights and Duties 68
Adoption 71
Emancipation 82
Your Property
Buying Your Home 86
The Purchase Agreement 86
Title Insurance 90
The Closing 93
Liability After the Sale 95
New Home Warranty Act 98
Landlord And Tenants 101
The Lease 101
Being a Landlord 105
Eviction 109
Tenants' Rights 110
Estate Planning 112
Making Your Will 113
Olographic Wills 117
Notarial Wills 120
Designating Bank Accounts 123
Trusts 124
Federal Estate Tax Exemptions 129
Living Trusts 131
Irrevocable Trusts 139
Charitable Trusts 141
Gifts 142
Collation 147
Asset Protection 150
The Risks 150
Creditor-proof Assets 151
Offshore Trusts and Banking 155
IRA Planning 156
Basic Concepts 156
The Stretch IRA 158
Tax Deferral and Compounding 163
Successions 164
Intestate Successions 164
Testate Successions 167
Forced Heirship 169
Small Successions 174
Your Business
Starting A Business 178
Purchasing a Business 179
Partnerships 181
Corporations 186
Limited Liability Companies 196
Contracts 197
Employment Rights 204
Worker's Compensation 204
Job Related Rights 211
Non Competition Agreements 215
Job Related Discrimination 216
Your Rights
As a Consumer 226
The Lemon Law 226
Consumer Protection 229
Consumer Credit 235
Credit Repair Services 240
Credit Reporting Agencies 241
Payment on Forged Checks 242
As A Debtor 244
Collection Agencies 244
Declaring Bankruptcy 247
Medical Decisions 255
Living Wills 256
Medical Consent 258
Do It Yourself
Can You Dolt? 262
Making the Decision 262
Hiring a Lawyer 266
Fees 270
Filing Your Own Suit 272
Which Court? 272
Small Claims Courts 274
Justice of the Peace Courts 277
Preparing Pleadings 278
Procedure 282
How to:
Write a Will 289
Change Your Name 294
Make a Marriage Contract 299
Collect a Debt 302
Form a Corporation 307
Recover a Rent Deposit 313
Settle a Small Estate 316
Frequently Asked Questions 319
Glossary 332
Judicial Districts 338
Index 340
