Baton Rouge Estate Planning & Probate Attorney

Helping You Confidently Plan for the Future

Protect your assets, your family, and your business with guidance backed by more than 45 years of legal experience.

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48+ Years

Serving Baton Rouge, LA since 1978

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AV Preeminent® Rated

Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating

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Specialized Experience

Financial and legal guidance

About Our Firm

Legal Counsel for Your Legacy and Your Business

Whether you are protecting a company or planning for the next generation,
Richard J. Tomeny brings financial insight and careful attention to every matter.

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Estate Planning & Probate Services

A thoughtful estate plan protects the people and property you care about most. Our firm helps individuals, families, and business owners plan ahead, and we guide heirs through Louisiana successions when a loved one passes.

  • Wills and trusts
  • Powers of attorney and healthcare directives
  • Business succession planning
  • Simple and contested successions
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Corporate & Business Services

Running a business brings legal and financial challenges. Our firm advises small businesses, growing companies, and lenders, drawing on decades of commercial banking, bankruptcy, litigation, and succession planning experience.   

  • Workouts and debt restructuring
  • Chapter 11 and creditor representation
  • Collections and business litigation
  • General counsel
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Who We Are

Business Insight.
Personal Commitment.

Richard J. Tomeny Jr. Attorney at Law has served clients across Louisiana since 1978. Founding attorney Richard J. Tomeny, Jr. built his career in banking and commercial law, serving as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Jefferson Guaranty Bank and later as special counsel to several Louisiana banks.

That background shapes everything the firm does. Business clients receive counsel grounded in how lenders think and how transactions are structured. Families receive estate plans that account for real-world assets, debts, and business interests. With offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the firm offers the focused attention of a small practice and the depth of nearly five decades in Louisiana law.

Practice Areas

Estate Planning and Business Law Services
in Baton Rouge, LA

From litigation and general counsel to wills, trusts, successions, and elder law, explore the full range of legal services available to Louisiana businesses and families.

Louisiana estate planning resources
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Estate Planning

Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that protect your assets and provide for your loved ones.

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Elder Law

Legal services for seniors covering long-term care, Medicaid, incapacity planning, and asset protection.

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Baton Rouge succession lawyer
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Probate & Succession

Representation in Louisiana successions, from simple small successions to complex estate administrations.

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Business Litigation

Representation in commercial disputes, including contract and partnership disputes and collections.

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Meet Our Founder

Attorney 
Richard J. Tomeny Jr.

Richard earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans and his law degree from Loyola University. He was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1978. He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has lectured for the Louisiana Bankers Association on loan documentation and has been approved as a closing attorney by the U.S. Small Business Administration. He holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

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Client Testimonial

“Richard is a very smart, experienced, and detail oriented attorney.
He has represented me for over 25 years and I would give him 100 stars!”

– Ray R.

Areas We Serve

Offices in Baton Rouge and Metairie, LA

With two convenient locations, the firm serves businesses and families throughout Louisiana. Whether you need help with an estate plan, a Louisiana succession, or a business matter, our attorney is ready to assist you.

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Protecting Your Assets, Your Legacy, and Your Family's Future

5 Reasons to Choose Richard J. Tomeny Jr. Attorney at Law For Estate Planning and Probate in Baton Rouge, LA

Protecting your family’s future is personal. You need an attorney who understands Louisiana law, listens closely, and has the experience to handle your unique circumstances and wishes. At Richard J. Tomeny Jr. Attorney at Law, clients work with an attorney who has guided Louisiana families and business owners for nearly five decades. Here is why so many people trust Richard J. Tomeny, Jr. with planning and settling their estates.

1. Nearly Five Decades of Legal Experience

Richard has practiced law in Louisiana since 1978. Over more than 45 years, he has helped clients with wills, trusts, probate, and complex financial matters. That experience means fewer surprises and an estate plan grounded in how Louisiana law works in practice, from forced heirship to independent administration.

He is admitted to all Louisiana state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

2. Recognized by Peers for Excellence

In 2018, attorney Tomeny received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for legal ability and ethics. New Orleans Magazine also named him one of the city’s Top Business Lawyers in 2009, as chosen by fellow attorneys. He is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Turnaround Management Association.

3. A Rare Background in Banking and Finance

Richard served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Jefferson Guaranty Bank and later as special counsel to several Louisiana banks. That background is a real advantage for your family.

When someone passes, banks often freeze accounts and require specific court documents before releasing funds. Richard knows what financial institutions need, which helps prevent delays during a succession. He also understands how loans, mortgages, and business debts affect an estate, so your plan accounts for them before they become a problem.

4. Probate Guidance When Your Family Needs It Most

Losing a loved one is hard enough without managing court paperwork alone. Attorney Tomeny handles both simple and contested probate matters, known in Louisiana as successions. He represents heirs, surviving spouses, and succession representatives, and he pursues independent administration when it can shorten the process and reduce costs.

For business owners, his planning also addresses what Louisiana’s default rules miss, so heirs aren’t left without authority in the company.

5. Personal Attention From Start to Finish

As a small, focused practice, the firm gives each client the time and attention that larger firms often can’t. You can expect clear explanations in plain language, prompt responses to your questions, and a plan built around your family’s goals rather than a template.

A detailed estate plan can spare your family stress, expense, and uncertainty in the future. Whether you are creating your first will or settling a loved one’s succession, you don’t have to face it alone. Schedule a private consultation with an experienced Baton Rouge estate planning and probate lawyer today.

Get the Guidance You Need Today

Take the Next Step

Whether your business is facing financial pressure or your family needs a plan for the future, waiting can limit your options. Contact the firm to schedule a private consultation and discuss your situation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about probate, estate planning, trusts, and elder law in Louisiana.

Not always, but most Louisiana families benefit from one. In Louisiana, probate is called a succession, and it often requires court filings, an inventory of assets, and a judgment of possession before property can be transferred. Some smaller estates qualify for a simplified small succession by affidavit, but mistakes can delay the process or create disputes among heirs. A probate lawyer helps you choose the right procedure, meet deadlines, and transfer assets correctly the first time. Legal guidance is especially valuable when there is no will, real estate is involved, or family members disagree about how the estate should be divided.

A complete estate plan usually includes four core documents. A will names who inherits your property and who will serve as executor. A durable power of attorney authorizes someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. A healthcare power of attorney and a living will guide your medical care. Many people also benefit from a trust, and business owners should have an operating agreement that addresses what happens to their ownership interest after death. Reviewing these documents every few years, or after marriage, divorce, or a new grandchild, keeps your plan current.

It is essential to start planning early. Medicaid reviews financial transfers made during the five years before an application, so gifts made too late can delay eligibility. Common strategies include irrevocable trusts, spousal protections that preserve income and assets for a healthy spouse, and converting countable assets into exempt ones. Every family’s situation is different, so a review of your parents’ finances and health is the best first step. Starting the conversation while your parents can still make their own decisions gives the family far more options than waiting until care is needed.

A revocable trust lets you keep full control. You can change it, add or remove assets, or cancel it at any time, and it helps your family avoid a lengthy succession. An irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed once it is created. In exchange for giving up control, it can offer asset protection, tax advantages, and help with Medicaid planning. The right choice depends on your goals, the size of your estate, and how much flexibility you want. Some families use both types as part of a single, coordinated estate plan.

Ideally, before a crisis. Good times to schedule a consultation include retirement, a new diagnosis such as dementia, a parent’s declining health, or concerns about long-term care costs. You should also seek help if a loved one can no longer manage their finances, may be facing financial exploitation, or needs to move into assisted living or a nursing home. Early planning keeps more options available and helps families avoid court proceedings, such as interdiction, that become necessary when no documents are in place.

Legal Insights

News and Resources From Our Firm

Stay informed with articles on Louisiana estate planning, successions, business law, and the financial issues that affect families and companies

Why Louisiana Calls Probate a Succession
Why Louisiana Calls Probate a Succession

  Families who inherit property in Louisiana are often surprised to learn that estates are not distributed through probate. At…

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How to Set Up a Trust in Louisiana
How to Set Up a Trust in Louisiana

  A trust can give you more control over how your property is managed and passed on, but only if…

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Do Joint Owners Inherit Property in Louisiana
Do Joint Owners Inherit Property in Louisiana

  When someone who shares ownership of a home dies, the surviving owner often assumes they now own the entire…

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