Progeny Law Firm

Can You Handwrite Your Own Will in Louisiana? Dan's Story Is a Cautionary Tale!⚰

Dan was a handyman, always believing, "If you can do it yourself, you should!" He had heard that in Louisiana, you can legally handwrite your own will, so that’s what he did. In his handwritten will, Dan left his entire estate to his partner of 30 years, Barb, specifically stating that his estranged brother, Earl, should inherit nothing.

Unfortunately, when Dan passed away, Barb consulted an estate planning attorney and discovered that Dan’s will was not properly signed or dated, making it legally invalid. Without a valid will, Louisiana succession law took over, and as Dan’s only living relative, Earl was entitled to inherit everything.

Lesson Learned: While Louisiana law allows handwritten wills (called "holographic wills"), they come with strict requirements. Dan’s do-it-yourself will wasn’t enough to protect Barb or his wishes.

Don’t let your loved ones face unnecessary legal challenges. If you’re thinking of writing your own will in Louisiana, consult with an estate planning attorney to make sure your will is valid and enforceable.

📅 Mark your calendar.

October 19–25 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week.

But your family doesn't need a national holiday to remind you. September ends tomorrow — is your plan where it needs to be?

✔️ Will? Check.
✔️ Beneficiaries? Check.
✔️ Power of Attorney? Check.

📞 Let's get ahead of it before October rolls around. )225) 465-1090

☕ It's National Coffee Day! And in Louisiana, that means chicory.

New Orleans has blended coffee with chicory since the 1860s — not a compromise, a tradition.

Your estate plan works the same way. No one-size-fits-all blend.

✔️ Blended for your family
✔️ Blended for your assets
✔️ Blended for what matters to you

📞 Let's brew up a plan made for you. (225) 465-1090

What is a Pour-Over Will?

🎶 Fun Fact Friday — it's Dolly Parton Day!

Cities across the country have declared September 25th "Dolly Parton Day" — a nod to "9 to 5" (9/25, get it?).

✔️ Dollywood opened in 1986 and became one of Tennessee's biggest employers
✔️ Her Imagination Library has mailed over 200 million free books to kids worldwide
✔️ She wrote "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" on the very same day

💛 A legacy of generosity and creativity that keeps on giving.

🍂 Fall cleaning isn't just for closets.

While you're clearing out the clutter, don't forget the paperwork that actually matters:

✔️ Find your will — do you know where it is?
✔️ Check your beneficiaries — still accurate?
✔️ Toss the outdated stuff, keep what's current

📞 Let's help you sort out what matters.

😅 “I don’t have time.”
🤷 “I’ll do it later.”
🙃 “Maybe next month.”

Sound familiar? We’ve all used those lines—usually right before binge-watching a whole season on Netflix.

The thing is, estate planning doesn’t take nearly as long as you think, and it gives your family way more peace of mind than another cliffhanger ending.

At Progeny Law Firm, we keep it simple, stress-free, and maybe even a little fun .



👉 Don’t wait until “next month” turns into “next year.” Start today!
(225) 465-1090

🙂Seven steps to successful planning:

* Take Inventory of Your Estate. First, narrow down what belongs to you.
* Set a Will in Place.
* Form a Trust.
* Consider Your Healthcare Options.
* Opt for Life Insurance.
* Store All Important Documents in One Place.

Hire an Attorney from Progeny Law Firm 😀

(225) 465-1090

💪 Monday Motivation

Fall officially arrives this week — new season, new energy, new start.

That estate plan you keep meaning to get to? This is the week.

✔️ One call ✔️ One meeting ✔️ One plan, done

📞 Let's make this the week you check it off. (225) 465-1090

Hashtags:

🏈 Fun Fact Friday!

Saturday, Lane Kiffin walks back into Oxford. Not as Ole Miss's coach, but as LSU's.

✔️ 6 seasons at Ole Miss ✔️ Gone in one offseason ✔️ No going-away party. Just an away jersey.

Oxford hasn't forgotten. Neither has Kiffin's Twitter. 🍿

Kickoff Saturday. Bring popcorn.