Louisiana Probate Appraisers

5.0from 80+ client reviews

Louisiana probate appraisers offering certified appraisals of personal property, equipment and machinery, fine art, boats and watercraft, and automobiles and vehicles for court-supervised probate administration. AppraiseItNow provides credentialed, USPAP-compliant probate appraisals across Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.

Get an instant response

DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, LOUISIANA PROBATE COURTS, AND ESTATE ATTORNEYS.

  • IRS
  • Louisiana Courts
  • Chase
  • Hancock Whitney
  • State Farm
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Bank of America

Credentialed Appraisers Serving Louisiana

Between them, our appraisers hold ISA, CAGA, ASA, ABV, and CFA designations, and every report is written to USPAP for the IRS, Louisiana probate courts, and estate attorneys.

Joe Kattan

Joe Kattan

Owner & CEO

Joe founded AppraiseItNow to make a certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal as simple to order as anything else online. A former Bain & Company strategy consultant, Joe leads the entire team and specializes in strategy, growth, and the firm's tech capabilities.

Anne Hay

Anne Hay

Personal Property Appraiser

ISA Accredited Member with 30 years in the trade, from running estate sales and an auction gallery to appraising luxury apparel, furniture, artwork, antiques, and business assets, primarily for IRS tax filings.

Jason Dolph

Jason Dolph

Machinery & Equipment Appraiser

Third-generation auctioneer and CAGA Certified Appraiser with more than 20 years valuing machinery, equipment, vehicles, business assets, and estates for banks, attorneys, and trustees across the Carolinas.

Ashley Innes

Ashley Innes

Personal Property Appraiser

ISA Accredited Member specializing in Asian art, with a Master's from SOAS and a Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art. Ashley chairs the ISA's Antiques, Furnishings, and Decorative Arts committee and appraises for charitable donation, insurance, and equitable distribution.

Marnie Erkelens

Marnie Erkelens

Vehicle Appraiser

CAGA Certified Appraiser since 2014, covering vehicles, boats, equipment, fine art, and collectibles. A classic-car restoration background informs her vehicle work, with reports prepared for insurance, divorce, and charitable contributions.

Justin Ramirez

Justin Ramirez

Business Valuation Expert & Appraiser

ASA, ABV, and CFA charterholder. Since 2016 Justin has valued businesses for estate and gift tax, purchase price allocations, fairness opinions, lending, and buy-sell agreements, across manufacturing, services, retail, and pre-revenue biotech.

Raymond Ghelardi

Raymond Ghelardi

Business Valuation Expert & Appraiser

Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers. Raymond values capital stock, business enterprises, stock options, and intangible assets.

Aron Blue

Aron Blue

Client Success Manager

Manages each engagement from the first enquiry to the delivered report, and keeps you posted at every step along the way.

  • USPAPWritten to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
  • Fair market valueThe IRS definition of value that Form 706, probate courts, and gift tax filings apply
  • International Society of AppraisersAccredited Member
  • Certified Appraisers Guild of AmericaCertified Appraiser
  • American Society of AppraisersAccredited Senior Appraiser
  • AICPAAccredited in Business Valuation
  • CFA InstituteChartered Financial Analyst
  • The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards

About probate appraisals in Louisiana

Louisiana handles estate settlement through a process called succession, and estates valued above $125,000 require a Sworn Descriptive List of Assets and Liabilities filed with the court, making accurate appraisals essential. AppraiseItNow provides probate appraisal services for executors, administrators, and heirs navigating Louisiana successions, including valuations needed to support federal filings such as IRS Form 706 for estates exceeding the federal exemption threshold. Our appraisers produce USPAP-compliant reports that satisfy both Louisiana court requirements and IRS scrutiny.

AppraiseItNow serves clients throughout the state with both remote and onsite appraisal options, making it easy to get a court-ready valuation regardless of where the estate is located. Our appraisers in Louisiana cover every parish, from New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Lafayette, Shreveport, and beyond.

What does AppraiseItNow appraise for probate in Louisiana?

AppraiseItNow appraises a wide range of assets commonly found in Louisiana successions, including:

  • Personal Property, including jewelry, antiques, furniture, coins, collectibles, and household goods
  • Equipment & Machinery, including medical equipment, restaurant equipment, manufacturing machinery, and technology assets
  • Fine Art, including paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, and mixed media
  • Boats & Watercraft, including sailboats, powerboats, yachts, jet skis, and personal watercraft
  • Automobiles & Vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, and classic vehicles

Who does AppraiseItNow serve in Louisiana for probate?

AppraiseItNow works with estate attorneys, succession administrators, executors, and heirs throughout Louisiana who need credentialed, court-ready appraisals to settle estates efficiently. We also assist financial institutions, trust companies, and CPAs managing complex successions involving multiple asset types across Louisiana parishes.

What Louisiana clients say we are known for

Louisiana Appraisal Reviews: “I will forever be in your debt” and “AppraiseItNow was amazing”

  1. Answering fast, and staying reachable while the work runs“They were responsive and timely from start to finish” Julia P.Mentioned in 5 reviews
  2. Being the appraiser they come back to“I highly recommend their services” Bruce A.Mentioned in 3 reviews
  3. Delivering the finished report ahead of the deadlineMentioned in 2 reviews

Across 8 published Louisiana appraisal reviews, every one from a client who paid AppraiseItNow for an appraisal, the three things they raise most often are how quickly we answer, that they would hire us again, and how fast the finished report arrived.

  • My mother passed away in August 2023 and unfortunately, in the state of Ohio, motorhomes are not transferable on death and was going to have to go through probate court. After speaking with an attorney, I was informed I needed an appraisal. Due to my hectic work schedule and family schedule, I was looking for someone who could do this online, without needing an appointment. After a quick Google search I came across Joe at AppraiseItNow Inc., and instantly felt relief. A quick inquiry led to a few emails back and forth, a very reasonable cost to have the motorhome appraised and all the information needed to submit to get this taken care of. Joe was patient, worked with me as it was going to take a few weeks before I was able to supply the needed images/documents and payment, and less than a week later of submitting it I received the appraisal. His communication is next to none! He responds very quickly, is kind and extremely helpful. If I need anything in the future, I will not hesitate to reach out again! Thank you again! I will forever be in your debt!
    Brandy F. ·

    Recreational Vehicle Appraisal for Probate

  • It is a pleasure to work with Joe and his team. They communicate every step along the way and made the process simple for us to have more than 35 firearms appraised. It was all done in a timely manner and the final report is easy to understand. I highly recommend their services.
    Bruce A. ·

    Gun Appraisal for Probate

  • AppraiseItNow was amazing! My father passed with a large volume of artwork & I had no idea what it was worth. Their team was incredibly helpful and quick to respond with text and/or email to any questions as well as a status update along the way. Highly recommend!
    Christina W. ·

    Artwork Appraisal for Probate

  • I needed to have a car appraised, AppraiseItNow got it done quickly and was super responsive about my questions. Whole thing was done online, very easy!
    Lauren C. ·

    Car Appraisal for Probate

  • Friendly, speedy service with fair value.
    Christina W. ·

    Auto Appraisal for Probate

  • I highly recommend the AppraiseItNow team. They were responsive and timely from start to finish, and the whole process was seamless. The final report was super detailed and gave me all the information I needed. I am so glad I hired them and would recommend them to anyone needing an appraisal!
    Julia P. ·

    Technology Equipment Appraisal for Divorce

Frequently Asked Questions on Louisiana Probate Appraisers

How are estate assets valued in a Louisiana succession?

Usually through a sworn descriptive list of assets and liabilities filed with the court at fair market value, which Louisiana allows in place of a formal public inventory. Louisiana administers estates as successions under the civil law rather than common-law probate, but the valuation need is the same: defensible values for vehicles, contents, collections, and business interests.

What qualifies as a small succession in Louisiana?

A gross estate of $125,000 or less at the date of death, under Code of Civil Procedure article 3421. Qualifying heirs can use the small succession affidavit without a court inventory or formal appraisals, though the affidavit must state a truthful gross value, so unsupported guesses can jeopardize eligibility.

Who values property when a Louisiana court orders a public inventory?

A court-appointed notary, assisted by two competent appraisers the notary appoints and swears, in the presence of at least two witnesses (article 3132). The appraisers need not live in the parish where the property sits, and Louisiana has no statewide probate referee, so valuation expertise is engaged case by case.

Can succession property be sold without an appraisal in Louisiana?

Courts generally will not approve sales of tangible personal property from an estate unless the items have been appraised, and judicially seized property must be appraised before sale unless the debtor validly waived appraisal. Filing a supporting appraisal or letter appraisal up front is usually the fastest path to an approved sale.