Preparing Your Garden for the Fall in Louisiana

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana, William (Bill) Arata has been counseling clients at the Arata Law Offices in Bogalusa for more than 20 years. Outside of work, Bill Arata enjoys gardening.

Consider these tips when preparing your Louisiana garden to thrive in the fall.

-Prune in August. Everblooming roses, also known as repeat blooming roses, include floribundas, hybrid tea roses, and grandifloras, among other varieties. This type of flower blossoms well from October through early December if you prune them back to a third of their height during August. You may still be able to achieve outstanding blooms if pruning is completed by early September.

-Avoid fertilizing with nitrogen. Check for nitrogen before fertilizing landscape plants in September. Fertilizers containing nitrogen can impede hardy growth in shrubs and ground covering as well as trees and lawns. Prolong your plants’ lives through the fall and winter by checking fertilizer labels for nutrient information.

- Select the right edibles. If you have an edible garden, you can start planting broccoli and cauliflower seeds in September. Opt for transplants when planting these in October. The same rule applies to Brussels sprouts. Plants that can start from seeds through October include Chinese cabbage and mustard greens.

Communicative and Adaptive Team Building for Teens

Handling cases of divorce, civil litigation, and personal injury, William “Bill” Arata represents clients throughout the Bogalusa, Louisiana, community. Since his father passed away from cancer in 2007, Bill Arata has maintained a strong commitment to furthering education among youth through activities that build group capacities; he believes that one of the core benefits of such activities is in providing a sense of group togetherness, which instills a greater capacity to stay focused and positive during times of stress.

A key focus of team building for teens involves getting beyond the “I” that tends to be a core focus in academic pursuits. Instead, participants become attuned to working with and helping others. They develop effective communicative skills through the multifaceted problem solving required in reaching goals.

Among the basic types of team building activities are those that emphasize communication, from message relay games such as “telephone” to the “human knot,” which requires close coordination to untangle limbs.

There are also adaptability activities that require an evolving approach as challenges progress. An example of this is the egg catapult activity, which requires groups to plan and design progressively better means of protecting eggs launched from a height.                            

Division of Property in a Louisiana Divorce

As senior partner of the Arata & Arata Law Office in Bogalusa, Louisiana, William “Bill” Arata represents clients in a variety of domestic matters. Bill Arata draws on an in-depth knowledge of divorce laws in the state of Louisiana.

In the state of Louisiana, unless there is a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement stating otherwise, a divorcing couple must divide community property evenly between the two parties. The state defines community property as that which the couple owned following the date of marriage, while all assets owned before the marriage remain the property of the original owner. The court does allow couples to independently determine who receives which particular asset, though this agreement must undergo official review to ensure equal distribution.

If the court makes decisions on specific division of property, it typically considers custody arrangements when determining which spouse will receive the family home. Courts also take note of the financial needs of each party and any children, expected financial standing in the future, and past contributions to the home itself.

Louisiana Automobile Accident Law

As the owner of the Arata & Arata Law Office in Bogalusa, Louisiana, William “Bill” Arata represents clients in a variety of civil, family law, and estate matters. Bill Arata routinely takes on cases brought by parties injured in automobile accidents.

In the state of Louisiana, an individual who has suffered an automobile accident injury may bring suit within one year of the accident date. This statute of limitations applies to all lawsuits related to automobile accidents, except for those involving a death. In these cases, the family or legal representative of the deceased individual may file a wrongful death action up to one year from the date of the death.

Upon filing, a plaintiff may name either the at-fault individual or the insurer as the defendant in the suit. Statistics show that courts are typically more likely to award sizable damages if an insurer is the named defendant, as an individual would be responsible for paying compensation out of his or her own personal resources.

If the court does choose to award damages to the plaintiff, the total amount received depends on each driver's percentage of fault. For example, if the court determines that a plaintiff holds 10 percent responsibility for the accident, that person would receive 90 percent of the total damages sought.

Requirements for Divorce in Louisiana

William “Bill” Arata, the owner and senior partner of the Arata & Arata Law Office, builds on more than 20 years of experience with the firm. In that time, Bill Arata has represented clients in numerous divorce cases.

A couple may file for divorce in Louisiana once they have resided in the state for at least one year and have lived separately for a minimum of 180 days, provided that the couple has no minor children. Couples with children must live in separate residences for a minimum of one year. Most couples who fulfill this requirement do not need to state their grounds for divorce, unless they are in a covenant marriage.

Available only in Arkansas, Arizona, and Louisiana, a covenant marriage sets forth limited reasons for seeking divorce. These include adultery and a felony conviction, which may also be grounds for divorce in a non-covenant marriage. Couples in a covenant marriage also have the option to seek divorce on the grounds of physical or sexual abuse of children or a spouse, abandonment of the marital home, or separation for a minimum of two years. If a separation agreement exists, the couple may divorce after 12 to 18 months, depending on the absence or presence of minor children.

Divorce from a covenant marriage also requires marital counseling and a waiting period of two years. Couples agree to these terms when they sign the Declaration of Intent that defines the covenant marriage as a sacred agreement to live as husband and wife for the remainder of their lives.