Louisiana Non-Disclosure Agreements: Confidentiality is extremely important in the corporate world.  Business plans, customer lists, marketing strategies, plans for a new product, pricing plans, proprietary processes, trade secrets, and other information that gives the company a competitive edge are examples of confidential information that is subject to non-disclosure agreements.  Businesses can preserve their creative ideas and strategic benefits and get a clear competitive edge in the market by being able to keep private information secret. What is a Non-Disclosure Agreement? A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a formal contract that allows one party to share private information with another party.  It

Jefferson Criminal Record Expungement Lawyers: An expungement lawyer specializes in assisting individuals in sealing their criminal records.  People make mistakes.  It will be more difficult to find employment, housing, and loans with an arrest and conviction record because those transgressions will appear on your background check.  An experienced expungement attorney is needed to determine eligibility, obtain the necessary documentation, file the paperwork, and attend any hearings.  If you have been arrested or and/or convicted, you should call an expungement lawyer to help you expunge your record and move on after your regrettable mistake. What is an Expungement? Per La. Code

New Orleans Estate and Succession Lawyers: A succession lawyer is an estate attorney who specializes in assisting families and heirs in obtaining their inheritance through the probate process.  An experienced succession attorney is needed to identify the rightful heirs, determine whether there are forced heirs, appraise assets, identify creditors, and distribute the estate.  As a result, a probate lawyer can help you navigate Louisiana’s unique and extensive succession laws. During the initial appointment, a Louisiana succession lawyer will examine your loved one’s estate planning documents, their assets, their debts, and familial relationships.  After that, the succession lawyer will prepare the

Louisiana Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts Explained: A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (“MAPT”) is one kind of irrevocable trust intended to safeguard assets in order to qualify for Medicaid.  Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are usually not covered by standard health insurance, so people must either pay for them out of pocket or qualify for Medicaid, which has requirements related to income and asset limits.  Medicaid only covers your long-term care if you are below the asset limits.  Any assets beyond the asset limit would first need to be liquidated and used for your care.  However, if assets are

Trusted New Orleans Collection Lawyers: Bowes, Petkovich & Palmer, LLC is a leader in legal collections in the state of Louisiana.  Our New Orleans collection lawyers handle many different types of collection accounts for many national, regional, and local creditors.  Our creditors’ rights team has developed an expertise in asset location, skip tracing, litigation, and post-judgment collections. Types of Accounts that Our Collection Lawyers Handle: Consumer Collections: Our New Orleans collection lawyers routinely collect and file suit for delinquent credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, boat loans, RV loans, payday loans, lines of credit, and over-drafted bank accounts.  We represent

The Louisiana Interdiction Process Explained: What is Interdiction? Interdiction is similar to guardianship and continuing tutorship.  It’s an order from the court that gives you, or someone else, the legal right to make decisions for your adult child or relative. Interdiction is only for people who do not have the mental capacity to care for themselves or make their own decisions.  This is the last option to consider because it takes away a person’s legal rights to make decisions about their life.  It is the most restrictive option. The court will name a curator (guardian) to take care of your adult child

Enforceability of Non-Compete Agreements in Louisiana: Non-compete agreements, also known as restrictive covenants, are used by employers all over the country to stop workers who leave or who are fired from working for a rival company or launching a rival venture.  Non-compete clauses are intended to assist businesses in preventing former managers, staff members, or other individuals with a unique connection to the business from engaging in business competition. Because non-compete clauses often prohibit someone from “exercising a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind,” they are discouraged in Louisiana.  As a result, unless they fall under one of

New Orleans Estate and Trust Lawyers: A trust lawyer is an estate planning attorney who specializes in assisting trustees, settlors, beneficiaries, and heirs in obtaining and preserving their inheritance through probate, trust administration, trust disputes, and various estate planning situations.  An experienced trust attorney is needed to advise which type of trust is best suited for an individual’s needs.  As a result, a trust lawyer can help you navigate local, state, and federal regulations as well as additional legal and tax ramifications based on your assets and wishes. During the initial appointment, a Louisiana trust lawyer will talk over your

Probate and Succession Checklist – What You Will Need: It can be emotionally difficult to deal with the probate process after a loved one passes.  You will find yourself organizing all your loved one’s belongings, reading numerous forms, signing documents, and perhaps taking care of new pets.  In Louisiana, understanding the key steps involved in estate administration and distribution is crucial after losing a loved one. What is Probate? Louisiana probate, also known as succession, is the formal, court-supervised process of administering and settling a decedent’s estate.  La. Civ. Code art. 871.  This may include carrying out one’s final wishes

Name Change Process in Louisiana: A legal name change is the process of changing one’s given name to a different name of their choice.  This can include their first name, last name, or both.  People change their names for all sorts of reasons.  This may include religious reasons, safety, privacy, divorce, adoption, or simply because they don’t like their names.  However, avoiding creditors or criminal prosecution will be cause to deny a name change.  Who Can Change Their Name? Anyone who is at least 18 years old can petition to change their name.  Minors can also change their names, but