Estate Planning & Succession
Estate Planning and Succession in New Orleans for Property Owners and Families
Protecting Your Property & Legacy in Louisiana
At Gulf South Title, we offer more than just closings—we also help clients plan for the future and navigate sensitive transitions. Through our estate planning and succession services in New Orleans, we support families in managing real estate titles and ownership across generations. In Louisiana, estate law covers wills, powers of attorney, and court-handled successions, and our legal team assists with each of these to ensure your property is protected and transferred correctly.
Unique Louisiana Laws
Louisiana estate law is unlike any other state’s. With rules around forced heirship, usufruct rights, and community property, even straightforward inheritances can become complicated. Gulf South Title understands these legal nuances and works with clients to structure wills and successions that comply with the state’s requirements while honoring your intentions.
Our Services
We provide a full suite of estate planning and probate-related services tailored to Louisiana law:
Will Preparation & Estate Planning
A will ensures your home and other property go to the right people and avoids unnecessary disputes. We help you create a will that reflects your goals.
Powers of Attorney
A POA authorizes someone to act on your behalf, whether signing at a closing or managing affairs if you’re unavailable.
Succession (Probate) Services
When a property owner dies, succession is the legal process used to transfer ownership. We handle handling a succession and the eventual sale if needed.
Peace of Mind for You and Your Family
Planning ahead isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about easing the burden on loved ones later. Preparing documents like wills and POAs means your affairs will be handled the way you want, and should someone pass away, we can take care of the succession and property transfer. Our clients trust us to handle these moments with efficiency and care.
Integrated Real Estate & Legal Expertise
Estate planning with Gulf South Title ensures continuity between your property transactions and your long-term goals. If you close on a home with us, we can update your will to include it. If a family member passes and a property needs to be sold, we manage both the legal and real estate steps. This seamless process keeps everything aligned—and saves you time.
Experienced Legal Team
Our attorney-led team has prepared hundreds of wills, power of attorney documents, and successions for families across the New Orleans area. We either handle the process in-house or work with trusted local estate attorneys, depending on your needs. Our deep knowledge of real estate law ensures that every detail is addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
I heard Louisiana doesn’t use the word probate – what is succession?
In Louisiana, the process of settling a deceased person’s estate is called succession. It serves the same purpose as probate in other states and is often required to transfer real estate.
Can Gulf South Title help if a property owner dies and the heirs want to sell?
Yes. We initiate the succession process, obtain court authorization, and can handle the closing once the title is ready to transfer. This dual approach simplifies the experience for heirs.
Why should I make a will? What happens if I don’t have one?
Without a will, Louisiana law controls who inherits, which might not reflect your wishes. For example, a surviving spouse might not receive everything if there are children. A will gives you control and streamlines the succession process.
What is a power of attorney and when would I need it in real estate?
A power of attorney allows someone to act legally on your behalf—often needed when you can’t attend a closing or want a trusted person to manage your affairs. We prepare POAs that meet Louisiana’s strict requirements.