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www.MorrisonLawPLC.com | (504) 831-2348 | January 2025
METAIRIE OFFICE 3813 N Causeway Blvd. Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70002
COVINGTON OFFICE 40 Louis Prima Dr., Covington, LA 70433
Guiding Louisiana Families Through Life’s Greatest Changes From Our Family to Yours
Thank you for your referrals!
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Kurt Bellow
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At Morrison Law Group, our guiding principles define who we are, shape our firm’s culture, and guide every decision we make. They give us purpose and help us stay focused on what matters most: the families we serve. When I joined my husband, Chip Morrison, at the firm six years ago, one of our first projects together was establishing our Core Values. These principles reflect the foundation of the work Chip has been doing for the past 20 years as an attorney, helping Southeast Louisiana families navigate major life events, such as settling a loved one’s estate, planning for special needs, and creating tailored estate plans. As a practical touch, we cleverly crafted our core values with a “C” making them catchy, clear, and easy to recall! Today, a charming poster is carefully conveyed in our office, serving as a continuous cue to our team and clients. (Did I mention I’m a former school teacher who really loves alliteration? 😉 See what I did there?) Client-Centered: Our firm is well-known for forming lasting client-attorney partnerships grounded in trust, relatability, and service. Committed to Excellence: We provide clients with the highest quality of professional service. Customized Solutions: We ensure every family derives the greatest possible benefit from our services based on their unique needs. Consistent Communication: As a family-owned firm, we are approachable and excel at making complex legal concepts clear for our clients. Compassionate Connections: We empower clients to create a harmonious legacy that will benefit their loved ones for generations.
Our team has steadily expanded over the years, and in 2022, we reached a significant milestone when Chip entered a partnership with Ronda Gabb, principal of Ronda M. Gabb & Associates LLC in Covington. This partnership extended our reach from Metairie to the Northshore, allowing us to better serve families across Southeast Louisiana. The capacity we’ve gained from this collaboration has been nothing short of remarkable. In fact, we were honored to be named the top local fundraising team in this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Our team of 11 raised over $13,000 — a phenomenal amount, made possible by the generous support of our clients, many of whom have been personally impacted by the disease. We remain committed to supporting other organizations that improve the lives of those we serve, such as the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans and Families Helping Families. Our dedication to making a difference goes beyond the legal work we do, and we are proud to continue these meaningful collaborations. This year, our Gabb-Morrison partnership will evolve further as Ronda takes on a new role focused on legal education and outreach. A
Families Helping Families Stephanie Inguagiato
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Sinclair Prosser Gasior
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Bill Thomassie Kent Griener
Rob Folse
Morrison Law Group PLC works hard to prepare for the future, protect families, and plan your legacy. We appreciate it when our clients recognize that hard work by referring us to their family, friends, or clients. If you know someone who needs help with estate planning, please have them call our office at (504) 831-2348.
To learn more about succession planning, scan the code and listen to attorney Chip Morrison explain why avoiding the probate or succession process can benefit you and your loved ones.
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(504) 831-2348
THE SILENT HEALER
Meet the Boxer Who Changes Lives
At first glance, Sullivan is already a special dog. An adorable white boxer with a dark patch of fur around his right eye, he’s the kind of canine humans of all ages instantly fall in love with. If his cuteness wasn’t enough, he’s best known in his community for bringing people together in extraordinary ways. Originally found in a shelter in Coachella, California, Sullivan — who is deaf — lives in Oregon with his guardian, Allyson Ridling. A social worker and family therapist, Ridling has made Sullivan’s sweet temperament and calming presence a significant part of her practice. After bringing Sullivan to reading sessions with children (much to the delight of the little ones in attendance), she began including him in walking sessions with her clients. Fluent in sign language, Ridling has also introduced Sullivan to hard-of-hearing people worldwide via online video chats.
Early last year, Sullivan and Ridling received a 2024 Oregon Humane Society (OHS) Diamond Collar Award for their compassionate work. Thrilled by the honor, Ridling credits her animal companion with helping her clients find greater joy and comfort. “Some of these people just needed to reconnect with love and feeling this undoubtable connection between the human and animal bond,” she says in a special OHS-produced YouTube video on the award. “That’s what they needed to help open up and take their next step moving forward in their life.”
comfort helps those who are struggling to open up. [He] may not be able to hear, but his impact on the mental health of those around him speaks volumes.” Proud of her furry friend’s loving nature and many achievements, Ridling believes that animals like Sullivan can work wonders for people’s therapeutic treatment. “I think the human/animal bond works really well because animals don’t judge. They have unconditional love to give people. As [a] society, we could all work better to strive to be as loving and caring [and] as open- minded as a dog can be.”
The OHS was proud to honor Sullivan for his fantastic work with humans.
“As a therapy dog, Sullivan is a friendly presence for kids to practice their reading,” the organization says on its website. “His
IT’S TIME TO REFRESH YOUR ESTATE PLAN! Secure Your Legacy
Sometimes, life comes at you like a runaway train. Births, marriages, divorces, real estate purchases and sales, retirement, or the sudden incapacity or death of a loved one — all of these events can swiftly render your estate plan outdated. Updating your estate plan at least every 3–5 years is essential to ensure your wishes are carried out. A review can also avert mishaps — such as bequeathing a big chunk of your estate to that ex-son-in-law you detest or funneling the proceeds of your life insurance policy to your ex-wife because you forgot to remove her as a beneficiary. As the new year begins, this is a good time to sit down with your attorney and review the details of your estate plan, including your will or trust, living will, and health care and financial powers of attorney. Consider whether your children can navigate the splitting up and receipt of their inheritance peacefully. While a simple will may be all you need, a will does not eliminate the need to go through probate. A trust can cost more upfront but may be
cheaper in the long run because it avoids the legal entanglements that can arise during probate. Planning for potential incapacity is increasingly vital as our lifespans increase. If you become completely incapacitated, a power of attorney will save your trusted representative from having to go to court to manage your affairs. A living will, also known as a “pull-the-plug” document, can ensure your wishes are carried out. Does it look as if you or your spouse may need long- term care? Talk with your attorney about whether to put a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust in place to ensure some of your assets are protected from long-term care costs. If you have a special needs teen approaching age 18, consider setting up a continuing tutorship so you can continue to oversee their affairs. Updating these details may take an hour or two now, but it can avert days or weeks of problems for your heirs and safeguard the legacy you want to leave. Chip offers all our clients a free complimentary estate plan review every 3–5 years. Don’t hesitate to call us today.
Scan this code or shorturl.at/LOEy to download our L Black Book of Succe and learn what you to know NOW ab the succession pro in Louisiana!
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DYING WITHOUT A WILL IN LOUISIANA WHO GETS WHAT? In one of many unique twists in Louisiana inheritance law, the assets and savings of people who die intestate, or without a will, are doled out based upon a state-created formula. Under intestate succession, inheritance depends on whether you have living children, parents, or other close relatives. Others may be left with a usufruct — a legal right unique to Louisiana that enables the holder to use and earn income from the property until death or, in the case of the deceased’s spouse, remarriage. Here’s a quick overview:
Under intestate succession, who gets what depends on whether or not you have living children, parents, or other close relatives when you die. Here’s a quick overview:
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self-described “proud nerd,” Ronda is passionate about making complex legal terms like “usufruct” and “abusus” easier to understand. She’ll expand her efforts through podcasts, writing, and workshops aimed at providing valuable knowledge to clients and professionals. Meanwhile, Chip and I remain firmly anchored in the rhythms of family and firm life. Born and raised in Metairie, we’ve called Mandeville home for nearly 15 years. Our children, one currently attending LSU and two soon to follow, represent the next generation of our family’s Louisiana legacy. GEAUX TIGERS! Our deep understanding of Louisiana’s distinct legal landscape — from forced heirship to interdiction — continues to be at the heart of everything we do. This newsletter marks another step in our ongoing effort to help families navigate these complexities in a clear, approachable, and meaningful way. We hope this resource will be a helpful guide for you, and we encourage you to share it with others who may benefit from your insights. Regardless of what major life events, changes, or sensitive family concerns you are facing, we’ve got your back Because at the end of the day, the most important things in life aren’t things — they’re the people we care about and the legacy we create for them! –Kimberly N. Morrison
“Fantastic experience. Chip made everything so simple. He and his staff are very professional and very enjoyable to work with. I would recommend his services to everyone.” —Eddie S. “I would like to give a big THANKS!! to Morrison Law Group for helping me get the Power of Attorney that I greatly needed for my adult son with autism. We were well-informed about everything we needed to know before this process was done.” —Courtney P. 5-STAR REVIEWS
visit ya Little essions u need bout ocess
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3813 N Causeway Blvd. Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70002
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INSIDE
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Bringing Legal Acumen, Heartfelt Service to Clients’ Needs
pg. 2 A Deaf Dog’s Remarkable Journey
Update Your Estate Plan, Secure Your Legacy
pg. 3 How Louisiana Law Chooses Your Heirs for You
pg. 4 How to Make a Meal a Lasting Memory
Tips for Launching Your Own Dinner Club Gather, Savor, Repeat
The holiday season often enables us to reconnect with friends and loved ones in person, but maintaining that spirit of tangible togetherness all year can often be a struggle. Nothing beats sitting down with people whose company you enjoy, so if you’re looking for a new way to stay connected with family members, friends from college, old work colleagues, or anyone else this new year, starting a dinner club may be perfect!
you’d love to catch up with over a great meal. The trick is to be mindful of your club’s membership size. Ideally, it should be large enough for guests to connect with several friends and new people but small enough to ensure intimacy. Choosing Your Dinner Destination Determining the best settings for your dinner club gatherings is key to their success. For example, hosting them at members’ homes on a revolving basis (with the host or other members doing the cooking) would help the invitees avoid cramming into a noisy restaurant and having to shout at each other while seated at a long table. Matching Mood and Menu Coming up with interesting themes for every meal adds a thrill to the festivities. Maybe one of your members would
Conceptualizing Your Club There are no hard-and-fast rules to
like to give cooking a vegan meal a try. Perhaps another member would love to share an amazing recipe they picked up while vacationing in Mexico. The possibilities are endless! No matter how you structure your dinner club, the goal is to have fun and spend time with wonderful people. Bon appétit!
creating and maintaining a dinner club. You could start by giving your club a fancy name and deciding how often it should meet. From there, think about the people you want to invite. Perhaps you know people who share a particular interest you also love (classic movies, model airplanes, etc.), or you have a group of old friends
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