Estate Planning Attorney in Gretna, Louisiana
Alan Kansas helps Louisiana families plan ahead with clear, thoughtful estate planning and succession guidance — working directly with every client from the first conversation to the final document.
How I Got Here and Why
It Shapes How I Work
I spent the first part of my career at large corporate firms, representing businesses in employment law cases. In 2008, I established The Law Office of Alan Kansas, LLC and began representing employees and small business owners in employment, business, and litigation matters. I appreciated every opportunity to support clients through difficult legal situations — but seeing the true cost of litigation up close made me want to do more to help people avoid legal problems in the first place.
That's what led me to estate planning and succession law. Guiding clients through this work made me a more helpful and personal legal adviser than I ever was in a courtroom. My goal is to help you plan your future, avoid unnecessary legal problems, and live your best life.
I still help employment law clients navigate workplace problems — not through litigation, but through focused counseling sessions built around practical, unbiased advice that empowers you to make the best decision for your situation.
One Attorney. Your File Never Leaves My Desk.
The Law Office of Alan Kansas is a solo practice, and I run it that way deliberately. There are no associates or outsourced virtual assistants preparing your documents after I draft them, no paralegals handling your signing appointment, and no junior staff returning your calls on my behalf. If you're wondering who's working on your estate plan, the answer is the same every time: me.
That consistency matters. Estate planning requires someone who knows your family's full picture — your assets, your concerns, the people you're trying to provide for. That's not something that translates cleanly through a handoff. I stay on every file because that's the only way to do this work right.
I've Built My Practice Around Louisiana's Unique Estate Laws
Louisiana is unlike any other state when it comes to estate and succession law. Forced heirship. Usufruct. Community property. Notarial will requirements. The succession process — what other states call probate — filed at the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish. These aren't minor variations on a national framework. They're Louisiana-specific rules that online platforms don't account for and attorneys trained in other states often miss.
I've practiced civil law in Louisiana for more than 20 years. My office is three blocks from the 24th JDC courthouse in Gretna. I've handled succession matters in that building, built estate plans for families across Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard Parish, and reviewed every piece of content on this site for Louisiana-specific accuracy before it publishes.
When I tell you what your plan needs, I'm drawing on more than two decades of hands on legal experience, not applying a general legal framework with a Louisiana label on it.
Gretna Is My Community. The Practice Reflects That.
Alan has been recognized by Super Lawyers in 2024, 2025, and 2026, a distinction awarded to a small percentage of attorneys in each state. He also maintains a strong Google rating, reflecting the care and responsiveness clients experience throughout the estate planning and succession process.
While professional recognition is meaningful, Alan places the greatest value on the trust clients show when they refer family members, friends, and loved ones to his practice. For him, that kind of confidence reflects the personal, relationship-driven approach at the center of his work.
My practice is rooted in the New Orleans community and focused on the West Bank. I served on the board of the Jewish Community Day School. I meet weekly at the Red Maple with local business owners in the Westbank Crescent City Business Partners BNI group, and my office is located at Primary Workspace at 519 Huey P Long Avenue in Gretna, just three blocks from the 24th JDC courthouse.
When you work with me, you work with me directly throughout the estate planning or succession process. I am local, reachable, and personally involved — not only while your documents are being prepared, but also if questions come up after they are signed.
- Super Lawyers, 2024, 2025, & 2026.
- 20+ Years of Louisiana Legal Experience
- Litigation Background in Estate and Succession Law
- 5-Star Google Rating
- Board Member, Jewish Community Day School, West Bank
Tom
Client Highlight
“I hired Mr. Kansas to help draft an employment contract for my small business. He was very professional and had a very quick turnaround time with the contract. Ease of availability and his flat rate services make him an excellent employment attorney for small business owners.”
What People Want to Know Before Calling
Who is Alan Kansas and what kind of law does he practice?
I'm an estate planning and succession attorney based in Gretna, Louisiana. I've practiced Louisiana law for more than 25 years, including time as a litigator, which shapes how I draft documents today. I work with individuals and families across the West Bank and greater New Orleans area on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, successions, special needs trusts, and emergency guardianship planning.
How long has Alan Kansas been practicing law in Louisiana?
More than 25 years. My practice now focuses on Louisiana estate planning and succession law — not a general practice that handles estate work on the side. I know this state's legal framework because of my extensive experience practicing here.
What do Alan Kansas Law Office reviews say about working with him?
Clients consistently point to two things: the personal attention and the clarity I bring to a process that can feel complicated. I maintain a 5-star Google rating, and most of my clients find me through referrals from people I've already worked with. Verified reviews are available directly on this page.
Does Alan Kansas handle every matter personally, or does he delegate to associates?
Every matter, personally. I'm a solo practitioner with no associates. Your documents are drafted by me, reviewed by me, and finalized in a signing appointment I conduct myself. That's not a marketing claim — it's how the practice is structured.
Does Alan Kansas have experience with Jefferson Parish and the 24th JDC specifically?
Yes. My office is three blocks from the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. I've handled civil matters in Jefferson Parish for more than 20 years and know the 24th JDC's specific procedures well.
Ready to Have a Conversation?
The first step is simple: a 15-minute discovery call where we talk through your situation and what kind of plan makes sense for your family. No paperwork, no commitment — just a conversation with the attorney who will actually handle your matter.
