Ducote Law Firm, LLC

08/13/2026

08/12/2026

Hurt in an Accident?

Give us a call to discuss your rights. The consultation is 100% FREE.

📞 (337) 429-5218

08/11/2026

Need Legal Help?

At Ducote Law Firm, LLC we have a team of skilled attorneys with expertise across very diverse practice areas, all working together to deliver effective, results-oriented advocacy for our clients.

Interested in learning more about how we can help you navigate the legal process or the courtroom? Give us a call today.

📞 (337) 429-5228

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Free Consultation & No Fee unless we recover for you—on all personal injury matters.

07/12/2026

As the lyrics say: “They don't dance” . . . but they surely can help knock out some e-discovery on a case!
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Featured: Paralegals + Support Staff of Ducote Law Firm, LLC @ this year's SWLA Bar Association Incrediball Tournament

07/11/2026

Our firm’s team members had a fun (and wet) day participating in this year’s annual SWLA Bar Association Incrediball Tournament.

It was a great day of friendly competition and an opportunity to socialize with fellow Lake Charles law firms, attorneys, and first responders.

This year’s tournament had a good turnout, with a record eight teams participating, including six law firm teams featuring attorneys from many firms, as well as teams from the With You Organization, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Events like this help keep our local bar association and legal community close-knit, collegial, and professional while strengthening the relationships that benefit our profession as a whole. The attorneys and staff at our firm are already looking forward to participating again next year!

Thank you to the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and Jackson Ritchie of Cox Law Firm for putting together such a great event this year (even despite some unexpected weather delays)

07/09/2026

We're proud to introduce the newest members of our team!

• Emma Michon
• Rilyn Simon
• Maria Delgado
• Nathan Dyson, J.D.

We're excited to have each of them with us and look forward to continuing to serve our clients with a strong and dedicated team.
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(Emma joined our firm in February.)

A native of Sulphur, Louisiana, Emma brings enthusiasm, a strong work ethic, and a genuine passion for helping individuals navigate difficult legal challenges. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she was actively involved in numerous student organizations and was a proud member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.

As a litigation paralegal, Emma works closely with our attorneys in all aspects of a busy civil litigation practice. Through her professionalism, attention to detail, quick wit, and dedication to providing exceptional client service, she has quickly become a trusted and dependable member of our litigation team. Emma approaches every matter with a willingness to learn, a positive attitude, and a commitment to helping clients receive the highest level of representation.

(Rilyn joined our firm in March.)

Originally from Hackberry, LA, Rilyn has strong organizational skills, exceptional multitasking abilities, a calm and professional demeanor, and the personal drive to continue learning about the law while advancing her education and experience in the legal field. She intends to continue pursuing her education through college coursework in paralegal studies.

Rilyn currently serves in the critical role of Legal Receptionist and Secretary, where she skillfully handles dozens of phone calls, emails, correspondence, and other inquiries each day, ensuring that every matter is promptly directed to the appropriate attorney or paralegal. She plays an essential front-line role in helping our office remain organized, responsive, and client-focused.

(Maria joined our firm in April.)

Originally from Cuba, Maria and her family have proudly called Moss Bluff home for many years. Maria brings an upbeat spirit, a kind demeanor, ambition, and a strong desire to help those in need of legal assistance to our firm. Maria is currently enrolled at McNeese State University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Law. She is an active member of the Phi Mu Sorority and participates in numerous other extracurricular activities. She has a goal of attending law school one day.

As a Legal Assistant, Maria assists our paralegals and attorneys with client intake, file creation, intake forms, discovery organization, and a wide variety of other clerical and litigation support responsibilities. Additionally, as the second bilingual member of our team, Maria provides invaluable insight and enhances our firm’s ability to serve a diverse client base.

(Nate joined our firm in May.)

Originally from San Diego, California, Nate is no stranger to Louisiana, having attended and graduated from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, alongside our attorneys, Samuel Ducote and Robert Guidry. After spending time working in other states following law school, Nate has returned to Louisiana and intends to sit for the Louisiana Bar Exam in February 2027.

Before law school, Nate earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology (IT) Management from National University in San Diego, California, and then worked in the fields of information technology and legal services near Olympia, Washington.

Today, Nate serves as a Lead Case Management Paralegal for our firm, working closely with our attorneys to help ensure each litigation matter is strategically managed and moving efficiently toward the best possible outcome for our clients. His legal education also enables him to assist with legal research, analysis, drafting, and briefing. Additionally, Nate serves as our firm’s Chief IT Officer, helping ensure that our office remains efficient, technologically advanced, and well-equipped to handle the demands of modern litigation.
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Please join us in welcoming Emma, Rilyn, Maria, and Nate to the Ducote Law Firm family. We are grateful to have each of them on our team, and we are confident that their unique talents, diverse backgrounds, and dedication will continue to strengthen the service we provide to our clients and our community.

07/07/2026

Need a Lawyer? Give Us a Call Today!

📞 (337) 429-5218 | 1021 Broad St., Lake Charles, LA

06/20/2026

Legal arguments advanced by our attorneys prevailed this week before the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. The matter involved the duration of a jail sentence imposed upon a client in connection with a contempt of court finding that occurred prior to our firm’s involvement in the matter.

The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed the length of a jail sentence for Lake Charles attorney Christian Chesson.

06/17/2026

(***NEW LAW UPDATE***): A New Louisiana Law May Shake Up the Starting Point for How Family Courts Award Child Custody and Divide Time Between Parents Going Forward.
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Act 605 —(which passed the Louisiana House and Senate unanimously)—becomes effective August 1, 2026. The new law strengthens the presumption of “equally shared custody” (i.e., a 50/50 split of physical custody time between parents) from a mere preference into a default rule for Louisiana judges in most cases, with notable exceptions where courts retain discretion to deviate in select circumstances.
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1. What the law changes.

Act 605 (formerly House Bill 1239) amends Louisiana’s joint-custody statute, La. R.S. 9:335. The old version of La. R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b) said that, to the extent feasible and in the child’s best interest, physical custody of the children “should” be shared equally, language courts treated as a goal, not a binding presumption. Act 605 rewrites that provision so that physical custody “shall be shared equally” unless the court determines that equal sharing is not feasible or is not in the best interest of the child. The shift from “should” to “shall” is the heart of the change: an even 50/50 split now functions as the default starting point under La. R.S. 9:335, rather than a mere preference.

2. What did not change.

Judges keep some discretion still. The new default is not an automatic, no-exceptions mandate. By its own terms, La. R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b) allows a court to depart from equal sharing where it finds equal time is “not feasible or in the best interest of the child.” Every custody decision still turns on the best-interest-of-the-child standard, and courts must still weigh the statutory factors enumerated in La. Civ. Code art. 134—including the love and affection between each parent and the child, each parent’s capacity to provide care, and the stability and continuity of the child’s home and schooling. In short, 50/50 becomes the presumed result, but a parent can still show why a different arrangement better serves the child.

3. What is the Likely impact of this change in the Law.

Practically, the starting point in most cases moves toward a mandatory default of shared custody, meaning an even split of physical custody time, shifting the burden onto the parent seeking something other than a 50/50 arrangement to demonstrate, under La. R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b) and La. Civ. Code art. 134, why equal time is either not feasible or not in the child’s best interest. Real-world factors, including the distance between homes, work schedules, school calendars, and travel demands, will continue to shape what a court ultimately orders, so detailed parenting plans and mediation are likely to matter more than ever. Because the implementation order also allocates physical custody time, these changes may ripple into related issues, including child-support calculations.

Act 605 takes effect August 1, 2026. Existing orders are not automatically rewritten, but the new standard will guide new filings and may effect some modification requests moving forward.

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Disclaimer: This post is shared for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice or a legal opinion regarding any specific case and should not be exclusively relied upon. This post does not create an attorney-client relationship with any person. For case-specific guidance regarding your individual situation or factual circumstances, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area who is familiar with the unique facts of your case.
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See full text of Act 605 here: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1480364