Law Office of Alan Kansas

Estate Planning Attorney | Gretna, Louisiana

I'm based in Gretna — not just listed here. My office is at The Primary Workspace on Huey P Long Avenue, a few blocks from the 24th Judicial District Court, where Jefferson Parish successions are filed. I serve Gretna families on estate planning, wills, trusts, and successions personally, on a flat fee.

Based in Gretna.

Serving Families

Across the West Bank.

The Primary Workspace sits in a converted 1950s-era primary school building on Huey P Long Avenue in Gretna — a few blocks from the 24th JDC courthouse and a short walk from the heart of the West Bank community I've practiced in for more than 20 years.


I meet clients here by appointment. When succession filings require a courthouse presence, I walk two blocks. When Jefferson Parish procedural questions come up, I'm drawing on direct experience with this court — not general knowledge applied from across the river.



That proximity isn't a marketing point. It's a practical advantage that shows up in how your matter is handled and how efficiently it moves through the local system.

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Jefferson Parish Successions Are

Filed at the 24th JDC

Just Minutes from My Office

Every succession proceeding for a Jefferson Parish resident — whether they lived in Gretna, Harvey, Westwego, Marrero, Bridge City, or Terrytown — is filed at the 24th Judicial District Court on Derbigny Street in Gretna. This is the only court with jurisdiction over Jefferson Parish succession matters.


Here's what local familiarity with the 24th JDC actually means for your case:


  • Filing procedures. The 24th JDC has specific procedural expectations for how succession petitions are submitted, how heirship is documented, and what supporting materials are required at filing. Attorneys who file here regularly know what the court expects and how to prepare documents that move efficiently.

  • Timeline expectations. A straightforward, uncontested Jefferson Parish succession with organized records and cooperative heirs can often be resolved in a few months. Many uncontested matters are handled through expedited procedures that don't require the heirs to appear before a judge. Timeline estimates I give clients are based on this specific court's actual pace — not a statewide average.

  • Judgment of possession. The final step in every Jefferson Parish succession is the court's judgment of possession — the document that legally transfers title of estate assets to the heirs, clears real estate records, and authorizes financial institutions to release accounts. I prepare these filings personally and appear at the 24th JDC when a court presence is required.
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No firm based in New Orleans or Metairie can replicate this. The 24th JDC is across the river from them. It's two blocks from me.

Estate Planning and Succession Services for Gretna Families

I work with Gretna residents on every area of estate and succession law.

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Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Notarial and olographic will drafting, built to meet Louisiana's execution requirements and account for forced heirship and community property rules.

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Successions

Complete Jefferson Parish succession handling from intake through judgment of possession at the 24th JDC

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Special Needs Trusts

Louisiana-compliant SNT drafting that protects Medicaid and SSI eligibility for disabled beneficiaries

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Emergency Guardianship Planning

Provisional custody by mandate and tutorship designation documents for parents with minor children who need legal authority in place for same-day emergencies

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Asset Protection Planning

Pre-nursing home strategies to address home equity and savings before long-term care costs become the deciding factor

My Commitment to You

We live in a complicated world, and most of us barely have the time and energy to handle everything life throws at us. I get that. My job is to make the legal side as clear and straightforward as possible — so you leave every conversation knowing exactly where things stand, what comes next, and what it costs.


Whether you're building an estate plan or handling a succession after a loss, I'm here to help you take care of business efficiently, with minimal stress and no unnecessary legal drama.

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Proudly Serving Gretna and the Surrounding West Bank

My practice is built around the economic reality of West Bank families — a house, a retirement account, kids in school, and the same concerns about the future that every Louisiana family carries. Not high-net-worth estate complexity. Not Northshore pricing.



I work with families throughout Gretna and the surrounding communities: Harvey, Westwego, Marrero, Bridge City, Algiers, and the broader West Bank corridor. Terrytown families are a short drive away and receive the same local service. Jefferson Parish is my practice area in the most literal sense — this is where I live and work, where I file, and where my clients' estates are administered.

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Common Questions from Gretna Residents

  • Is there an estate planning attorney near me in Gretna, LA?

    Yes. My office is at 519 Huey P Long Avenue in Gretna at The Primary Workspace, two blocks from the 24th JDC courthouse. I meet with clients by appointment and offer 15-minute discovery calls by phone or Zoom for those who want to talk through their situation before scheduling an in-person meeting.

  • Where do I find a succession attorney in Gretna, Louisiana?

    Jefferson Parish successions file at the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. I handle succession matters for Jefferson Parish residents personally, with direct knowledge of the 24th JDC's filing procedures and timeline expectations. My office is two blocks from the courthouse.

  • Do I need a local attorney for a Jefferson Parish succession?

    You don't legally need a local attorney, but the practical advantage of working with one is significant. The 24th JDC has specific procedural expectations that attorneys who file there regularly know from experience. A Gretna-based attorney handles Jefferson Parish succession matters more efficiently than one filing remotely from New Orleans or another parish.

  • Can a wills and trusts attorney in Gretna help me if my situation is simple?

    Yes — and most Gretna families I work with have straightforward situations. A house, a retirement account, and minor children is exactly the profile my practice is built around. Most estate plans are flat-fee engagements with a clear scope. Simple situations deserve real legal protection, and a simple plan doesn't need to be expensive.

  • Does Alan Kansas serve Harvey, Westwego, Marrero, and other West Bank communities?

    Yes. I serve clients throughout Jefferson Parish and the West Bank — Gretna, Harvey, Westwego, Marrero, Bridge City, Algiers, and surrounding communities. All succession matters for Jefferson Parish residents file at the 24th JDC in Gretna regardless of the specific community.

Your Plan Starts With One Conversation

Whether you're building an estate plan, opening a succession, or just trying to understand what your family needs — a 15-minute discovery call is the right first step. I'll tell you what your situation requires and what it will cost before anything else moves forward.