Carey Messina is a partner in the Baton Rouge-Bluebonnet office of Kean Miller. He is one of the founding members of the firm and previously served as the administrative partner for six years. Carey leads the firm's estate planning and probate group and represents clients in wills, trust, succession, and federal tax matters. Carey works with individuals and families to establish estate plans. He also works with individuals to create non-profit corporations.

Carey has particular experience in transactions involving valuation of closely held businesses for succession purposes, establishing shareholder agreements, and establishing wealth transfer entities.

Carey is a Certified Public Accountant and is a Board Certified Tax Law Specialist and Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White) in Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. 

Representative Experience

• Representation and creation of non-profit entities.
• Representation of clients in the formation of wills and trust instruments to defer estate taxes and gain maximum flexibility for post-mortem planning.
• Representation of numerous local businesses in corporate and shareholder agreement matters.
• Representation of families in numerous succession matters.
• Representation of families in eldercare and interdiction matters.

Education

Carey earned his B.B.A. from Northeast Louisiana University in 1974. He earned his J.D. from the LSU Law Center in 1978 and his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1979. He passed the Certified Public Accounting examination in 1975.

Admissions

• Admitted to bar, 1979, Louisiana.

Memberships

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
• East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations
• Past President, Estate Planning and Administration Advisory Commission
• Past President, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization
• Baton Rouge Estate Planning Council

Community Service

• Planned Giving Council, LSU Foundation.
• The Community Chest of, Capital Area United Way.
• Planned Giving Council, St. Joseph's Academy.
• Planned Giving Council, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
• Former Member, Capital City Kiwanis Club.
• Former Chairman, St. Joseph's Academy Advisory Board.
• Director, East Baton Rouge Parish Academic Distinction Fund.

Articles, Publications and Presentations

Louisiana Estate Planning - Some Information You Should Know
Succession Questionnaire
Estate Planning Questionnaire
Transferring the Family Business to Your Children
Estate Planning Is For Everyone
Recent Developments in Federal Income and Estate Tax Matters
Recent Changes in Louisiana Will, Succession and Trust Law

Lecturer

• Louisiana's Forced Heirship Law, Louisiana State University Estate Planning Seminar, 1996.
• Louisiana State University Estate Planning Seminars, Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Update, National Business Institute, 1994.
• Death Taxes and Louisiana Considerations With Respect to Non-Probate Assets, East Baton Rouge Parish Bar Association Tax Section, 1992.
• Louisiana State University Estate Planning Seminar, Basic Probate in Louisiana, National Business Institute, 1988.