Practice Areas
The Maples Law Office focuses on the three types of law detailed below. If you have a legal issue in a different practice area, Mr. Maples would be happy to sit down with you and discuss your options.
Estate Planning
-Individual or Joint Wills: A will is a written and signed document directing the distribution of a persons assets. Everyone needs a will to assure that what they worked hard for will end up in the hands of the ones desired. Eliminate the possibility that the state will determine the allocation of your assets and have a will prepared today.
-Living Will: A living will is a written declaration detailing a person's desires for life sustaining medical procedures should that person have a terminal or irreversible condition. Living wills allow people to make important life sustaining decisions before it is too late.
-Powers of Attorney: In the event somthing happens to you or your loved one, be prepared. Powers of attorney allow the person you select to make medical and financial decisions that will be critical in the time of need.
-Trusts: Trusts can be testamentary which means they are created inside of a will or can also be put into place while you are living. Trusts can be both revocable and irrevocable. Trusts are most commonly used to hold assets from minor children until they are of age, to reduce inheritance tax and to provide for spouses.
-Successions: Successions occur when the assets of the deceased are passed to the heir. Have you been named in a will? If so, you may need an attorney to prepare a petition to probate the will, a petition to appoint an executor, and a petition for possession and a judgement of possession.
Family Law
-Divorce: Divorce is difficult for all parties involved but does not have to deplete your savings or cost you things that are rightfully yours. Whether you are considering your options about filing or you have been filed against, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Divorces can either be contested or uncontested and are most commonly filed as "no fault" divorce. There are two living apart requirments before a divorce can become final: one year if there are minor children and six months if no children are involved. A person seeking divorce can either file before or after the period of separation. There are limited instances in which "fault" based divorces can be achieved quicker. Nevertheless, divorce is a terrible time on everyone and does not need to be a time that your rights are compromised. Please contact our office for an initial consultation. Depending on your specific circumstance will determine the fees, but almost every case can be handled for an inexpensive rate.
-Child Custody: Louisiana's custody arrangements are based on the "best interests of the child." At the difficult time of divorce, an extremely important determination is which party will have legal and physical custody of the child. In many instances, these arrangements may be shared. It is important to discuss your options of child custody with an attorney early in the divorce process.
-Child Support: Child support is governed by a statutory formula. The formula will be explained to you in detail to assure you are either getting the amount you should or not paying more than is required depending on your situation.
-Spousal Support: There are two types of spousal support: interim and final. Both are based on the ability of the other party to pay and your specific needs.
-Community Property Separation: Louisiana is a community property state, and everything you acquired as a married couple must be separated after the divorce. This includes all physical property and all debts. It is very important to discuss property settlement with an attorney.
-Adoption:
There are four main types of adoption in Louisiana: Private, Agency, International and Intrafamily. As an adoptive parent himself, Mr. Maples loves this area of law, and he would be eager to discuss with you your desires. Mr. Maples will handle your case from the first prayer or dream until the truly joyous conclusion. Adoption is love, and Maples Law Office absolutely would love to embark with you on this journey.
Criminal Defense
When a person is arrested that is just the beginning of their involvement with the criminal justice system. It is at that phase that is of paramount importance to retain the services of an experienced criminal attorney.
-DWI: The Maples Law Office works extensively to defend against DWI charges, working to help you keep your driver’s license and avoid extended jail time whenever possible. If there’s an opportunity for a diversion program to keep a DWI conviction off your record, we will advocate for it.
-Drug Crimes: Whether you’re dealing with a misdemeanor for a small amount of marijuana or a felony charge for drug distribution or trafficking, the Maples Law Office will use all its experience and resources to protect your rights and defend you against aggressive prosecutors and police. We represent clients in cases involving possession and sale of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and prescription drugs, and we’re also skilled in handling larger conspiracy cases.
-Violent Crimes: Maples Law Office defends against a variety of violent crime charges, including assault and battery, domestic violence, homicide and rape. At the Maples Law Office, we understand the seriousness of these major charges in Louisiana, and we are committed to fighting hard to build the strongest case for our clients. Mr. Maples has tried more criminal jury trials in the last ten years than any other attorney in Ascension parish.
-White Collar Crimes: At the Maples Law Office, we handle complex cases involving crimes like embezzlement, mail and wire fraud, and computer crimes. White-collar criminal charges can result in a conviction, damage to your reputation, loss of your professional license and even prevent you from working in your field. We work with forensic accountants and other experts in Louisiana to tackle these complicated financial cases, and we will customize our legal defense to meet your specific needs.
-Sexual Offenses: Sex crime charges often come with the harshest penalties and the most damaging allegations to one’s reputation. We’re dedicated to not only defending our clients’ rights but also safeguarding their privacy to prevent a public frenzy before the trial is even over. We represent clients facing charges such as sexual assault, solicitation, child pornography, statutory rape, and molestation. Our firm believes in giving every defendant a strong legal defense without prejudging their guilt. We approach each case with sensitivity and thoroughness, ensuring that our clients receive the fair treatment they deserve throughout the legal process.