Summerfield Elder Law Lawyers

I am passionate about helping people solve their issues. In addition to running my own law firm, I also own other business ventures in various industries, which ownership at times has pushed me to think outside the box to solve more complex issues. This gives me an added depth of problem solving that my clients need. I fight hard to provide my clients with competent and efficient representation in my full-service firm.

Joe has been practicing law for 40 years. His practice emphasizes estate planning, trusts, successions (probate), Medicaid, VA benefits, Social Security disability appeals, asset protection planning, and general family counseling in these areas. He realizes that each client has individual circumstances that require a unique plan. He plans with the overarching goal of protecting the client’s well-being and secondarily preserving the client’s assets over the long term. Joe has given frequent seminars for the public, financial planners, and other professional groups. He has been honored to present at attorney continuing-education seminars sponsored by LSU Law Center, Tulane Law School, and...

I am a CPA and attorney. I have been a CPA since 1994 and an Louisiana attorney since 2000. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization has designated me as a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist (since 2008), as well as a Board Certified Tax Law Specialist (also since 2008). My practice focuses strongly on the needs and issues particular to farmers, middle income clients and small business owners. These include issues such as estate tax reduction, medicaid long-term care planning, special needs planning, asset protection planning, and small business protection planning. Plans I regularly recommend and personally draft for...

We do things differently from other lawyers. We don't just give you a stack of documents. We advise and guide you to the best possible outcome for your family when you can't be there for them yourself. Our firm represents Louisiana families and individuals on matters involving estate planning, succession, probate, wills, trusts, and long-term care planning. We help you make the best planning decisions for your family and ensure that the estate plan you create with us will work when your loved ones need it most. Our team includes an expert estate planning attorney with 20+ years of experience in wills, trusts...

Bill Cherbonnier is a New Orleans native and a graduate of Jesuit High School and Tulane University Law School. He grew up on the West Bank and currently lives on the East Bank, and has offices on both sides of the river. His law practice includes all of South Louisiana and employs the latest technology to communicate with clients. Most initial consultations are conducted by telephone and are usually free. Bill is a trial lawyer who has represented plaintiff personal injury claimants, insurance company defendants, and an occasional alleged felon. He believes that the middle class in America is the forgotten...

Author and attorney Morgan Allison earned a Juris Doctorate from the LSU Hebert Law Center in 2001. He practices family and estate law in Houma, Louisiana with his wife and law partner Elizabeth Allison. In addition to his legal skills, Mr. Allison brings extensive technological skills from years of computer software coding and forensic computer investigation to the service of his clients. Mr. Allison has served the community as a volunteer EMT/firefighter, District Chairman for the Boy Scouts of America, and currently as a member of the board of directors of the Houma Rotary Club.

Lance McCardle is a dogged, diligent advocate for his clients-evidenced by the number of thank you notes sent from clients who are ever grateful for his work in recovering their investment losses. His clients appreciate his honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of their case and the on-going advice he shares as their case progresses.

Linda S. Melancon is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning,
Elder Law, Medicaid and VA benefit’s planning, Special Needs Planning, and Estate
Administration (Probate, Successions and Trust Administration).
Linda is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, certified by the
Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She is also accredited by the Veterans Administration to
give advice regarding veterans’ benefits.

Linda graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University with a double major in business
administration and history and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law
Center where she graduated with her law degree in 1997.

While in law school, Linda received the Order...

Chip's emphasis in his law practice is probate, wills, estate planning, interdictions, powers of attorney, living wills and trusts. He has also been appointed by the Court in complex matters to represent the interest of individuals in many differing areas of law. Martindale-Hubbell has given Chip an AV® Preeminent rating as an attorney, which is the pinnacle of excellence awarded by the Bar and the Judiciary to any individual attorney, recognizing that Chip has the highest possible rating available in legal ability and ethical standards. Chip was named by New Orleans Magazine as one of the "Top Lawyers" in...

Ms. Casteix is Managing Partner of Barrios Kingsdorf & Casteix LLP. Her practice primarily focuses on business and real estate transactions as well as estate planning and administration (successions). She is a native and lifelong resident of New Orleans. After receiving her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, Ms. Casteix began her legal career as a law clerk for the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. In 1980 she became a partner in the firm of Cleveland, Barrios, Kingsdorf & Casteix where she remained a partner until 1995 when Barrios, Kingsdorf & Casteix was founded....

The Wall Street Journal has described Arsenault as having “national notoriety,” BusinessWeek described him as “a Dean of the Louisiana Tort Bar,” and The New York Times described him as one of the “big players” in the legal community. Arsenault has been an invited lecturer at various law schools including Baylor, Duke, Emory, University of Texas, Tulane, George Washington and LSU where he served on the Trial Advocacy faculty. He has been involved in over 25 Multidistrict Litigation proceedings, often serving in leadership capacities. He served as Lead Counsel in the Actos MDL where a jury rendered a $9 billion...

James is the managing member and managing attorney of Zitzmann Law, LLC and founded the firm in 2014.

He attended Louisiana State University for his undergraduate degree. While at Louisiana State, James was involved in Louisiana State University Student Government and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

He attended the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law where he was a member of the Loyola Law and Technology Annual. While attending, he received the Loyola Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship and the Academic Excellence...

As an associate attorney of Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP, Ryan Cook maintains an active securities arbitration and litigation practice. Mr. Cook has worked on numerous cases dealing with individual investors, high net worth and institutional investors, corporate executives, regional banks and municipal issuers.

Prior to beginning his law practice, Mr. Cook worked in the securities industry as a licensed and registered representative with a large broker/dealer. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from South Texas College of Law, where he earned his degree Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) as the graduating salutatorian. Mr. Cook...

.Attorney and Counselor at Law
Notary Public

Jennifer M. Bonneau has represented individuals, insurers, small businesses, insurance companies, and corporations in a variety of cases. She has extensive experience in helping clients resolve disputes through negotiations, trials, mediation, arbitration, and appeals.

Jennifer has served as both lead and assistant counsel in litigation resulting in millions of dollars in recovery to clients injured as a result of others. She represents clients in state and federal courts in matters both simple and highly complex. Jennifer is a Qualified Family Law Mediator and has also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for...

After practicing in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, probate, and real estate law for several years with a boutique law firm in the Baton Rouge area, Siobhan Leger opened the Leger Law Group, LLC. As the managing attorney for the Leger Law Group, LLC, Siobhan now practices in all areas of civil law, but continues to focus her practice on wills & trusts, estates, real estate, Medicaid and Veteran's Aid & Attendance planning, and family law.

Siobhan Leger is a graduate of both Louisiana State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, and the Paul M....

Are you looking for a probate lawyer in New Orleans, yet unsure of where you can even begin to search for the right attorney? While it is true that estate planning and probate are weighty and involve many serious facets and aspects, you do not need to be overwhelmed by them. Instead, be proactive and seek out the help your case requires. Attorney Gary S. Brown attended Louisiana State University, where he received his Juris Doctorate. He is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Attorney Robert Weimer received his...

J. Graves Theus, Jr. is a fourth-generation Louisiana lawyer with deep roots in this community. He received an LL.M. in Tax Law from Boston University School of Law in 1997, after graduating, cum laude, from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1996. He practiced in Seattle, Washington until 1999, when he joined a prestigious law firm in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was a shareholder there until 2013, when he began his private practice. Graves is certified by the Louisiana State Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Tax Law, as well as Estate Planning and Administration, and is an approved title...

Ronald “Chip” Morrison, Jr. is a Board Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.

Chip has litigated and administered many complex successions and business buy-outs and disputes, and has given numerous presentations to attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, certified financial planners, insurance agents, the National Business Institute, the Louisiana CPA Society, and individual CPA firms and insurance agencies throughout the State of Louisiana.

He has been qualified by the Louisiana Bar Association, Louisiana Department of Insurance, and the Louisiana Society of CPA’s to present continuing education programs discussing various Elder Law, Medicaid, Business and Estate Planning...

John E. Sirois, JD, MBA, CFP®, CIMA, CIMC, is based out of Houma, Louisiana practicing in the areas of estate planning, successions and probate, wills, trusts, special needs planning, Medicaid and long term care planning and Veterans Pension Benfits (aid and attendance). He works with clients throughout Southeast Louisiana. Many of John’s clients are retirees, and pre-retirees, and seniors who wish to ensure their financial future as well as the financial security of their spouse, children and grandchildren. John’s comprehensive book Louisiana Retirement and Estate Planning: The essential financial planning book for retirees and pre-retirees offers answers to the complex...

J. Douglas Sunseri is founding partner of Nicaud & Sunseri Law Firm, LLC . Since his admission to the Louisiana Bar in 1988, J. Douglas Sunseri has practiced in diverse areas of the law. From 1990-1994, J. Douglas Sunseri worked under Attorney J. William Becknell, the legal counsel for Mr. John Mecom, Jr., the initial owner of the New Orleans Saints. As a result, Mr. Sunseri was fully educated in broad areas of law and business. Also, Mr. Sunseri served as outside counsel for Mr. Tom Benson, former owner of New Orleans Saints, for special projects. Mr. Sunseri’s practice encompasses...