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M C Bank and Patterson State Bank made donations Friday to the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival organization. Pictured are, left, Brian Thorguson of Patterson State Bank giving a check to this year's festival king, William A. "Bill" Cefalu; and, right, Larry Callais of M C Bank giving a check to festival board President Bobby Dufrene. Representatives of the banks, the festival board and the festival staff were also on hand.

The Daily Review/Bill Decker

You know you should have a will, but you keep stalling. No one likes to think about dying or about someone else raising their children. But if you get no further than scribbling notes or thinking about which lawyer to hire, you risk dying “intestate” — without a will that could guide your loved ones, head off family feuds and potentially save your family thousands of dollars.
Financial planners say getting people to stop procrastinating on this important money chore can be tough. I asked several advisors to offer their best strategies for getting clients to get this done. Maybe one of these will help you.
REMEMBER WHOM YOU’RE DOING IT FOR
Certified financial planner Katrina Soelter of Los Angeles suggests thinking of an estate plan as “the best love letter you can write to those you love.” Providing guidance on what you want to happen after your death — and who you want to care for minor children or pets — can be a huge gift to those you leave behind. You’re also saving them the potentially large costs and delays of hiring attorneys to sort out your estate later.
Soelter said she procrastinated on her own estate planning and finds the positive approach works better than browbeating.
“It doesn’t help to heap more shame on them, but rather focus on the reasons why it is wonderful to get it done,” Soelter said.
VISUALIZE WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT A WILL
Then again, some people need to hear worst-case scenarios before they’ll act. Financial planners often point out, for example, that without an estate plan a court could end up deciding who takes care of your kids. State law determines who inherits your stuff, and the distribution may not be as you would want.
CFP Janice Cackowski of Rocky River, Ohio, said one of her clients recently died after ignoring her advice to create a trust. His will bequeathed his estate to his financially irresponsible son, with no restrictions.
“The money my client saved over his 63-year lifetime will be gone within 18 months of his death,” Cackowski said.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
CFP Kevin Gahagan of San Francisco notes that getting a basic estate plan in place may not be as complicated or expensive as you fear.
“It is the attorney who does the work,” Gahagan said. “They’ll guide you in identifying the questions you need to answer so a plan can be developed.”
Also, think about what you’d want to happen if you died in the next five years, rather than trying to create an estate plan that covers all eventualities, said CFP Karen E. Van Voorhis of Norwell, Massachusetts. You can always update and change things.
USE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Many big companies offer their employees access to attorneys through prepaid legal services, said CFP Amy Shepard of Mesa, Arizona. That’s how she and her husband, Michael, created their estate plan. They met with an attorney affiliated with the service, which cost less than $10 per biweekly pay period when he was employed by Wells Fargo.
“For most people, the biggest thing stopping them is money,” Shepard said. “If their employer offers a legal benefit, it can make the process of doing an estate plan very affordable and very simple.”
Given that attorneys often charge $300 and up for a will, while a living trust can cost $1,200 or more, prepaid legal services can be a cost-effective option for many people, Shepard said.
Affordable options for those who aren’t offered coverage through their employer may include online services such as Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom, which are best for people with simple situations, such as those who don’t have a lot of assets and who don’t need trusts, Shepard said. But users need to answer the sites’ questions carefully and get the resulting documents notarized, or the paperwork won’t be valid.
SET A TIMELINE
Van Voorhis also suggests making an appointment with an attorney now but scheduling it for a few months down the road.
“That way it’s on the books and they’ll feel like they’ve accomplished something, but they also don’t have to face it for a while,” she said.
CFP Mike Giefer of Minneapolis recommends incremental deadlines.
“By Oct. 1, have the conversation about guardians, charities and other estate intentions. By Nov. 1, have the initial meeting with an estate planning attorney. By Dec. 1, clarify and confirm the documents and have them signed before the holidays,” Giefer suggests. “On Jan. 1, 2020, they are done!”
—This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

March 8, 1940 – October 4, 2019

Juliette Derouen Landry, affectionately known as Julie, age 79, a native of Patoutville and a 58 year resident of Franklin, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 4th, 2019, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Julie was born at home, to her parents the late Octave and Elodie Hebert Derouen on March 8th, 1940. She would later fall in love and marry Alfred B. Landry Sr. on August 12th, 1961. They resided in Franklin, where they humbly raised six children. She completely devoted herself to her family as a loving mother and housewife. Later in life Julie would find her passion in working as a domestic housekeeper for many years. Julie being a nurturer by nature, devoted herself to her family, friends, church and community. She enjoyed volunteer work of any kind, but especially the 33 years spent at the Franklin Senior High School greenhouse caring for numerous plants and vegetables. She was affectionately known by students and staff as the “Plant Lady”. She also volunteered yearly at the St. Mary Parish 4-H Fair alongside her husband. Julie spent countless hours crocheting, helping neighbors in the community, counseling troubled youth, and sharing the word of the Bible and her love of the Lord. She was a 43 year member of First Baptist Church of Franklin. There she enjoyed serving in the Women’s Missionary Union, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, teaching vacation bible school and caring for children in the nursery.

Julie is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Alfred B. Landry Sr.; her children, Lynn Landry-Howe (Lane) of Colfax, Jessica Landry Pellerin and Jackie Landry, both of Franklin, Hilda Landry Frost (Paul) of Adeline, and Alexander Landry-Garcia (Guillermo) of Sarasota, Florida; eleven grandchildren, Nikki Landry Vincent (Robert), Scotty Pellerin, Jeremy Pellerin (Korie), Renee Landry, Keely Pellerin Simoneaux (Jacob), Matthew Pellerin-Perrin (Trey), Lauren Pellerin Likes (Matthew), Carlie Pellerin, and Joshua, Ella and Trey Frost; nine great-grandchildren, Skylee Rae and Avian Pellerin, Aubry Kate, Bryson, Charlotte, and Dawson Simoneaux, and Eli, Dax and Isabella Pellerin. She is also survived by her two sisters, Mrs. Mary Ann Blanchard (Boo) and Mrs. Octavia Copp both of Charenton; and her brother, Charles Derouen (Janell) of New Iberia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Julie was preceded in death by her son, Alfred B. “Booga” Landry Jr., her parents, Octave and Elodie Hebert Derouen, her in-laws, A.E. and Cecilia Pesson Landry; her siblings, Cleudy, Paul, Antoine, and Guy Derouen, Joyce Derouen LeBlanc Labiché, Rosalie Derouen Landry, Estelle Derouen Landry, Thelma Derouen Zimmerman, Lelia Derouen Powers, and Lily Derouen Stoute.

Pallbearers will be Alexander Landry-Garcia, Jeremy Pellerin, Matthew Pellerin-Perrin, Paul Frost, Kenny Blanchard, and Scott Landry. Honorary pallbearers will be Scotty Pellerin, Ambrose Blanchard, Todd Pellerin, Carol Landry and Charles Derouen.

A celebration of life will be held from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Tuesday, October 8th, 2019, at First Baptist Church, 1500 Iberia St., Franklin, LA. Pastor Chad Hebert will officiate the services. Burial immediately following in the Franklin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church of Franklin, PO Box 1147, Franklin, LA 70538 in Julie’s name.

Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert's Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.

The East St. Mary Kiwanis will sponsor an Election Day food drive to benefit St. Mary Outreach and its efforts to help the needy in this community.

The drive will be 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 12, the day of the primary election.

Containers will be available at all voting precincts. Monetary donations are welcome, too.

Suitable items for donation included unexpired, nonperishable canned goods; and hygiene products including deodorant, body soap, toothpaste and brushes, toiletries, paper products, toilet tissue, and baby wipes.