Your Family Needs a Plan, Not a: Probate Battle.
The LADD Firm brings 30+ years of estate planning expertise to Mississippi. We help Gulf Coast families protect what they've built — with trusts, wills, and a plan that actually works when it matters most.
Free telephone consultation — speak with a licensed attorney today.
The Risk of Inaction
Without a Plan, Mississippi Courts
Decide What Happens to Your Family
Dying without a proper estate plan doesn't just create paperwork — it can cost your family tens of thousands of dollars, drag them through court for months, and permanently damage relationships. Here's what's at stake.
Your Estate Enters Public Probate
Everything you own becomes public record. Creditors, distant relatives, and contested claims can surface. In Mississippi, probate typically takes 6 to 18 months or longer.
Probate Costs Can Consume 3–8% of Your Estate
Court fees, attorney fees, executor fees, and administrative costs compound quickly. On a $400,000 estate, that's potentially $32,000 that should have gone directly to your heirs.
Your Family Receives Nothing During the Process
Bank accounts freeze. The family home cannot be sold or transferred. Bills keep arriving. Your spouse or children may face real financial hardship while the estate moves through court.
A Judge Determines Who Raises Your Children
Without a designated guardian in your estate plan, a court makes that decision — possibly someone you would never have chosen, or a contested custody dispute while your children wait.
Your Property May Be Forced Into Sale
When multiple heirs inherit real property without clear direction, disagreements escalate into forced sales at below-market value — a loss for every member of your family.
Mississippi's Intestacy Laws Write Your Will
Die without a plan and state law determines who inherits. The outcome often doesn't reflect your wishes — and won't account for the specific dynamics of your family.
Why a Trust Changes Everything
The Concrete Benefits of a
Properly Structured Trust
A revocable living trust is not reserved for the wealthy. It is a practical legal tool for any Mississippi family that wants to protect their home, simplify the process for their heirs, and stay entirely out of court.
Completely Bypasses Probate
Assets in a trust transfer directly to your beneficiaries — no court involvement, no delays, no public record. Your family receives what they need, when they need it.
Protects You in the Event of Incapacity
If you are ever unable to manage your own affairs, your successor trustee assumes responsibility immediately. No court-supervised conservatorship is required.
Controls How and When Heirs Receive Assets
Specify that a child receives funds at age 25, for education only, or in structured distributions. A trust allows you to direct your legacy even after you are gone.
Addresses Blended Families and Complex Situations
Remarried? Estranged relatives? A child with special needs? A properly drafted trust ensures your intentions are honored — not overridden by default inheritance rules.
Can Shield Assets from Long-Term Care Costs
With the right trust structure, it may be possible to protect assets from Medicaid spend-down requirements — preserving your estate for your heirs rather than care facilities.
Maintains Complete Privacy
Unlike a will, a trust is a private document. Your assets, beneficiaries, and intentions remain between your family and your attorney — never entered into the public record.
We Also Draft Wills — and Sometimes That Is the Right Answer
Not every situation requires a full trust. For some Mississippi families, a carefully drafted will combined with appropriate beneficiary designations and powers of attorney provides exactly the protection needed.
A will allows you to:
- Designate a guardian for your minor children
- Name an executor you trust to administer your estate
- Specify the distribution of personal property
- Establish charitable gifts or special bequests
- Function as a safety net alongside your trust
The right plan depends entirely on your circumstances. That is precisely why we offer a free consultation — so you receive the strategy that fits your family, not a generic document.
Speak with an AttorneyOur Process
Getting Your Plan in Place Is
Simpler Than You Expect
Most clients are surprised by how straightforward the process is. From your first call to your executed documents, we guide every step.
Consultation
Meeting
Your Plan
Be Protected
Free Telephone
Consultation
A brief call with one of our attorneys costs you nothing. We learn about your family structure, your assets, and your goals — and tell you plainly which type of plan makes sense for your situation.
- No obligation — no pressure to retain us
- Speak directly with a licensed Mississippi attorney
- Receive a clear recommendation: trust, will, or both
- Get a firm price quote before committing to anything
The Design
Meeting
This is where we build your plan together. We walk through every decision in plain language — no legal jargon. You choose who is protected, who is in charge, and how your wishes are carried out.
- Decide who receives your assets and when
- Name your successor trustee or executor
- Designate guardians for minor children
- Address healthcare decisions and powers of attorney
- Plan for incapacity, not just death
We Draft
Your Plan
Our attorneys prepare every document — fully customized to Mississippi law and your specific family situation. Nothing is templated. Every provision reflects exactly what you decided in the design meeting.
- Revocable living trust or will (or both)
- Durable power of attorney
- Healthcare directive and living will
- HIPAA authorization
- Pour-over will (if trust-based plan)
Sign &
Be Protected
We review every document with you in detail until you are completely confident in what you are signing and why. Once executed, your plan is legally in force. Your family is protected.
- Line-by-line document review before signing
- Witnessed and notarized execution
- Guidance on funding your trust (transferring assets)
- Secure copies provided for your records
Client Testimonials
Real Families. Real Results.
"I am pleased with the advice and impressed with the time given to make sure we completely understood everything involved in setting up this trust. They made this easy."
"Very personable experience from start to finish. Banks did an excellent job helping us decide which plan was right for us. We never felt rushed or pushed in any direction."
"They made estate planning easy. Very professional and polite. Really enjoyed working with them."
"Banks is very knowledgeable and thorough in answering every question. I left feeling confident I had chosen the right firm."
"We would highly recommend The LADD Firm. They were professional and thorough in tailoring the plan to meet the specific needs of our family."
"Very professional yet personable. They explained all options in detail. We left feeling confident in the choices we made for our family."
Alabama &
Mississippi
Your Attorney
Guided by Advocacy: Meet Founder Banks C. Ladd
Founder & Managing Attorney — The LADD Firm
Banks founded The LADD Firm in 1995 and has spent over three decades helping families across the Gulf Coast establish estate plans that genuinely protect them. He is known for making a complex and often-avoided subject fully approachable — and for ensuring every client understands exactly what they are signing and why.
Licensed to practice law in both Alabama and Mississippi, Banks holds the highest peer review rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of WealthCounsel, the nation's leading network of estate planning attorneys. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law.
Do Not Leave Your Family Without a Plan
Every day without an estate plan is another day your family is exposed. A free consultation costs nothing — but the absence of a plan could cost your family far more than you realize.