Planning your estate in New Orleans? Louisiana law is its own animal.
Top Estate Planning Lawyers in New Orleans, LA
Louisiana is the only state with a civil-law system, and its rules on forced heirship, community property, and successions are unlike anywhere else. These ten verified New Orleans-area firms handle wills, trusts, and successions, and several include attorneys board-certified in estate planning.
Updated June 04, 202613 min readEditorially independent
Estate planning in Louisiana is not the same as anywhere else, because Louisiana is the only state built on a civil-law system rather than English common law. That affects almost everything: how property passes at death, the rules on forced heirship for certain children, how community property between spouses is handled, and the fact that probate here is called succession. An out-of-state form or an online template can miss all of it.
Good estate planning is also about more than death. A durable power of attorney and a health care directive decide who manages your money and medical choices if you become incapacitated. Without them, your family may have to ask a court to appoint someone through an interdiction - a slower, more public, and more expensive process. A solid plan keeps those decisions in your hands.
The firms below handle the full range, from basic wills and powers of attorney to complex trusts, tax planning, and successions. Several include attorneys certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization in Estate Planning and Administration. Each firm was verified against at least two independent sources.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable New Orleans-area estate planning practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Many & LoCoco
New Orleans, LAEstate planning & succession firm
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, successions, powers of attorney, living wills, interdictions, estate administration, elder law
Many & LoCoco is a long-established New Orleans firm serving the area since 1967, concentrating on estate planning, successions, and probate from an office on Conti Street. Attorney Vincent B. LoCoco, who joined his father's firm in 1993, holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyer. The firm handles both testate and intestate successions.
Why they made the list: Listed in the Justia and Avvo estate-planning directories and recognized by Martindale-Hubbell and New Orleans Magazine as a top trusts-and-estates practice.
Fee structure
Flat-rate packages for basic plans; hourly for complex matters
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, trust and estate administration, successions, trust litigation, elder law
Founded in 1958, this respected New Orleans firm has a dedicated Estate Planning and Probate Group on Poydras Street. Several partners are Board Certified Estate Planning and Estate Administration Specialists, and firm attorneys have co-authored leading Louisiana estate-planning treatises. The group handles wills, trusts, and successions under Louisiana law.
Why they made the list: Multiple board-certified estate-planning specialists on staff, confirmed via the firm and the Avvo estate-planning directory.
Morrison Law Group has focused on estate planning, successions, and elder law since 2004, serving the greater New Orleans region from offices in Metairie and Covington. Founder Ronald Morrison, Jr. is a Board Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist and serves on the board of governors of a national academy of estate planning attorneys. He regularly presents free public estate-planning seminars.
Why they made the list: Board certification by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization plus Avvo and chamber listings confirm a focused practice.
Fee structure
Flat fees for standard packages; hourly for complex estates
Practice focus: Estate planning, estate tax planning, wills, trusts, estate administration, business and tax planning
Michael L. Eckstein leads this New Orleans tax and estate-planning firm on Poydras Street. He is a Board Certified Tax Attorney, a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, and an Accredited Estate Planner, and holds a top Martindale-Hubbell rating. He was named a Louisiana Super Lawyer for many years.
Why they made the list: Dual board certifications in tax and estate planning plus Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent recognition.
Metairie / New Orleans, LAEstate planning & successions practice
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, successions, estate and trust litigation, business succession, elder law, taxation
Founded in 1989, Chehardy Sherman Williams serves the greater New Orleans area from Metairie. Partner Steven E. Hayes is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist and Board Certified in Taxation, with more than 30 years in estate planning, wills, trusts, and successions. The firm handles matters ranging from basic wills to complex successions and tax planning.
Why they made the list: Board-certified estate-planning attorneys and listings via the firm, HG.org, and FindLaw confirm an established practice.
New Orleans, LATax, estate planning & business firm
Practice focus: Estate planning and administration, wills, trusts, successions, taxation, business formations
Founded in 1991, this New Orleans firm on Poydras Street practices in taxation, estate planning and administration, and business transactions. Founder A. Albert Ajubita is a Board Certified Tax Specialist who holds an advanced degree in taxation and advises clients on estate planning and succession law. He has been selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers consistently for over a decade.
Why they made the list: Long-running Super Lawyers selection and a top Martindale-Hubbell rating, corroborated by Super Lawyers and Lawyers.com.
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, successions, estate and gift tax planning, business planning
Weiler & Rees is one of Louisiana's prominent tax-focused firms, with offices in New Orleans and Mandeville, practicing in tax, business, and estate planning including wills, trusts, and successions. Founding attorney John J. Weiler is a past president of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and was recognized as a Super Lawyer for many years.
Why they made the list: Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers recognition plus leadership in the New Orleans and national estate-planning councils.
Fee structure
Hourly billing for tax-driven estate and trust work
New Orleans, LAGeneral-practice firm with estate planning
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, successions (testate and intestate), estate administration
Founded in 1974 by senior partner Timothy G. Schafer, Schafer & Schafer is a long-standing New Orleans firm on Lafayette Street. Among its practice areas, it handles estate planning - including preparation of wills and trusts - and successions, both testate and intestate, along with their administration. The firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Why they made the list: Listed as a top estate-planning firm by Expertise.com and rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
Metairie / New Orleans, LAEstate planning & succession firm
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, successions, estate administration, powers of attorney, living wills
WJ Blanchard Law practices exclusively in estate planning, succession, and estate administration for individuals and families throughout the New Orleans metro. Founder Wesley Blanchard, a lifelong New Orleans-area resident, earned his law degree from Loyola University and previously handled successions, wills, and litigation at a prominent Metairie firm. The firm assists with drafting wills, setting up trusts, and Louisiana succession matters.
Why they made the list: An exclusively estate-planning-and-succession practice with a verified firm profile and client reviews.
Fee structure
Fees discussed at consultation; publishes Louisiana estate-planning cost guidance
New Orleans, LALarge firm, trusts & estates practice
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, successions, estate and gift tax planning, business succession
Liskow & Lewis is a major New Orleans-based firm whose trusts-and-estates work is led in part by Leon H. Rittenberg III, recognized by Louisiana Super Lawyers in Tax, Estate Planning and Probate, and Business categories. The practice covers estate planning, wills, trusts, and Louisiana successions alongside related tax and business-succession matters.
Why they made the list: Attorney Leon H. Rittenberg III is recognized by Louisiana Super Lawyers in Estate Planning and Probate.
Tell us what you are trying to protect - a home, a business, your children's future. We will connect you with a New Orleans estate planning attorney. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in New Orleans
Look for a board-certified estate planning specialist. Louisiana certifies Estate Planning and Administration Specialists. Several firms below have one - it is a strong signal of focused expertise in this civil-law system.
Make sure they know Louisiana succession law. Forced heirship, usufruct, and community property are Louisiana-specific. You want a lawyer who works in this system daily, not a generalist.
Match the firm to the size of your estate. A simple will and power of attorney is different from a multi-property, business-owning, tax-sensitive estate. Pick a firm sized to your situation.
Ask about incapacity planning, not just wills. A complete plan includes a durable power of attorney and a health care directive. Make sure the firm builds those in.
Get the fee structure up front. Many firms offer flat fees for standard plans and bill hourly for complex estates. Ask what your plan will likely cost before you start.
What estate planning help typically costs in New Orleans
Estate planning costs in New Orleans depend on how complex your plan is. Here is the range:
Basic will package. Many firms offer flat-fee packages for a simple will, power of attorney, and health care directive - often in the several-hundred to low-four-figure range.
Trust-based plans. Plans involving trusts cost more, commonly low-to-mid four figures, depending on complexity and assets.
Complex or tax-driven estates. Large estates with businesses, multiple properties, or estate-tax exposure are usually billed hourly, with New Orleans rates roughly in the $250 to $500 range.
Successions (probate). Settling an estate after death is billed separately, by flat fee or hourly depending on whether the succession is simple or contested.
Updates. Revising your plan after a marriage, birth, or move is usually modest if the firm already has your file.
A complete plan is a one-time investment that can save your family far more in avoided court costs, delays, and disputes. Ask each firm for a flat-fee quote where possible.
How long it takes
Putting an estate plan in place is usually faster than people expect:
Initial meeting. One session to map your goals, family, and assets. Come with a list of what you own and who you want to provide for.
Drafting. A few weeks for the firm to prepare your will, power of attorney, health care directive, and any trusts.
Review and signing. A signing meeting where documents are executed with the formalities Louisiana law requires. Doing this correctly is critical to validity.
Successions (after a death). Separate from planning. A simple Louisiana succession can take a few months; complex or contested ones take longer.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a estate planning lawyer in New Orleans
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many estate planning matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your New Orleans consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most estate planning matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Estate Planning attorney in New Orleans
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about estate planning lawyers in New Orleans
What is a succession, and is it the same as probate?
In Louisiana, succession is the process of transferring a deceased person's property to their heirs - what other states call probate. It can be simple or complex depending on whether there is a will and whether anyone contests it.
What is forced heirship in Louisiana?
Louisiana law reserves a portion of an estate for certain children - generally those under 24 or permanently incapable of caring for themselves. This is unique to Louisiana and is one reason out-of-state planning often fails here.
Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?
It depends. Many people are well served by a will plus powers of attorney. Trusts help with privacy, incapacity, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or larger estates. A lawyer can tell you which fits.
What happens if I die without a will in Louisiana?
Your property passes under Louisiana's intestacy rules, which may not match your wishes - especially given community property and forced heirship. A will lets you direct who gets what, within the limits of the law.
What is an interdiction, and how do I avoid one?
If you become incapacitated without a power of attorney and health care directive, a court may have to appoint someone to manage your affairs through an interdiction. A complete plan with those documents usually avoids it.
Are online will templates valid in Louisiana?
They can be risky. Louisiana's civil-law rules and signing formalities differ from other states, and a template can be executed incorrectly or miss forced-heirship issues. For anything beyond the simplest estate, a lawyer-drafted plan is far safer.
How do I provide for a child with special needs?
Through a special needs trust, which provides for the person without disqualifying them from means-tested benefits. Several firms on this list handle special-needs and disability planning.
How often should I update my plan?
Review it after any major life change - marriage, divorce, a birth, a death, a big purchase, or a move to or from Louisiana. Otherwise, a check-in every few years is sensible.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
Helpful next steps
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