Probate Attorney in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama

Fortenberry Legal

3443 Esplanade Avenue
Unit 528
New Orleans, Louisiana 70119
USA

(504) 264-2260

(877) 488-4862

www.fortenberrylaw.com

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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

Fortenberry Legal is a multi-state law firm that helps clients from across the United States with Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida probate matters. We also provide estate planning to help our clients avoid probate.

Our three core values are:

1. Open communication. You need to be able to talk to your attorney about your questions or concerns. This means that the attorney needs to be available when needed. And it would help if the attorney didn’t nickel-and-dime you for every phone call or e-mail. We try to excel in these areas.

2. Up-Front Pricing. You don’t usually make large purchasing decisions without knowing the price up front. Legal services should be no different. Our value pricing model focuses on the value provided instead of the time spent. This gives you an up-front cost estimate and encourages attorney efficiency.

3. Focused Practice. You wouldn’t go to an OB/GYN for a heart murmur. You want someone who has spent time learning to provide the services you need. That’s what we try to do. Instead of trying to be all things to all people, our attorneys focuses on what they know best and let other attorneys handle the rest.

We offer free consultations and up-front, flat fee pricing.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas Description

Fortenberry Legal provides legal representation and services in the following areas of practice:

- Probate & Estate Planning

Our trust and estate attorneys represent individuals and fiduciaries through the United States. Our primary focus is probate matters in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. We work with executors, families, trustees and businesses to help preserve and transfer assets to the next generation as quickly and efficiently as possible. Our reputation for excellence in probate and estate planning has been earned through serving executors from across the United States in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida estate matters.

- Executor Representation

The law of most states gives a person broad rights to direct the disposition of his or her assets. Part of this direction usually involves nomination of an executor to administer the probate estate. The executor is generally charged with acquiring any part of the decedent’s estate that is not in his possession and managing the estate in the best interest of all concerned, consistent with the will and state law. Executors must carry out their duties in good faith and as a reasonably prudent person would in the circumstances. We help guide executors through this process.

- Wills and Inheritance

The first step in probating an estate is to determine whether or not a decedent has left a valid will. If so, the people or organizations named in the will, known as beneficiaries, are entitled to the deceased person's assets. If not, the person's "heirs at law" will share the deceased person's assets under the state's laws of intestacy.

- Heirship

Although property may be transferred from the estate of someone who died without a will to his or her heirs at law by operation of law, those who later acquire property from the heirs may want proof that no one else can claim an interest in the property. No one wants to buy a lawsuit. This is especially true in the case of real estate. Because of the risk that an unknown heir will later claim an interest in the property, a mechanism is needed to ensure buyers (and, perhaps more significantly, title insurance companies) that there are no unknown heirs. This mechanism is an heirship proceeding, also called a suit to determine heirs. After a hearing, the judge will usually issue an Order Establishing Heirs, which gives buyers (and title insurance companies) the assurance they need that no unknown heirs will later claim an interest in the property conveyed.

- Nonprofit Services

Whether you are an established nonprofit organization or still in the start-up states, Fortenberry Legal can help you reach your goals. We represent nonprofits ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to multimillion dollar regional organizations. We can help you structure your organization and your business deals in a way that accomplishes your objectives and complies with tax laws and regulations.