SNW and Johnston Burkhardt Launch Divorce and Family Law Mediation Practice Divorce mediation offers a fast, respectful, private, and more affordable alternative to courtroom litigation. Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC is proud to announce the launch of its Divorce and Family Law Mediation Practice led by attorney Johnston Burkhardt, a certified Family Law, Child Custody, and Visitation Mediator. Many couples know they want a divorce, but they don’t want a fight. They want a process that is efficient, respectful, and focused on reaching a solution. Mediation offers a structured, confidential setting where spouses can resolve issues like custody, visitation, support, and property division with the help of a neutral mediator—without turning an already difficult transition into years of litigation. Why Johnston Became a Mediator As Johnston explains: “Over the years, I have been approached by spouses seeking divorce who ask me if I can represent both of them. They don't want their parents' divorce of the past – spending thousands of dollars for lawyers on each side and months of turmoil litigating every issue.” Recognizing the growing demand for collaborative, family-centered dispute resolution in Louisiana, Johnston pursued additional training and became a certified Family Law, Child Custody, and Visitation Mediator. He is listed on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Mediator Registry. How Mediation Works at SNW Mediation is designed to help spouses reach clear agreements—efficiently and with dignity. Mediation sessions are guided, goal-oriented, and focused on practical outcomes. When appropriate, mediation can address: Parenting plans (custody, visitation, holidays, decision-making) Child support and related expenses Spousal support Community property partition and debt allocation Other family-law issues that benefit from a cooperative approach Mediation at SNW is charged as a flat fee and typically includes one half or one full day of mediation and the preparation of all agreements reached during the session. Spouses typically split the cost of the mediation. After the mediation is concluded, one of the parties can retain an SNW lawyer to file the documents with the court and finalize the divorce. Why Spouses Are Choosing Mediation Save in Legal Fees: Traditional divorces can cost tens of thousands of dollars, with both parties paying their own attorneys. Mediation often costs a fraction of that amount, with the parties sharing the cost of one mediator instead of multiple lawyers. Faster Resolution: Litigation can drag on for months or years. Mediation can settle the terms of a divorce in days. Private, Not Public: Mediation sessions are confidential. Keep your and your family’s personal matters out of public records and off the internet. Protect Your Children : Reduce the emotional toll on your children. Mediation fosters cooperation and helps parents build healthier co-parenting relationships. Respect Your Ex : There’s a reason you got married. You don’t have to hate this person. Let us help you navigate an emotionally responsible exit. Don’t Lawyer Up : Both parties appear unrepresented, but before an experienced, neutral mediator who knows the law. If they reach an agreement, one party retains an SNW lawyer for the purposes of filing the necessary agreed-upon documents. Schedule a Mediation Consultation If you and your spouse are looking for a more respectful, efficient path forward, SNW’s Family Law Mediation Practice may be a good fit. To learn more or to schedule a consultation with Johnston Burkhardt, contact him today at johnston@snw.law or 504-313-4199. For more information on divorce and family law mediation, click here .

What to Expect in a Family Law Mediation Session Divorce and custody disputes are stressful enough without the added tension of the courtroom. Mediation offers an alternative approach, aimed at helping families move forward without litigation. But many spouses ask the same question before beginning the process: What actually happens in a mediation session? A Neutral Setting Focused on Resolution Mediation sessions are conducted in SNW’s office, not a courthouse. The sessions usually last a half or a full day. The mediator’s role is not to pick sides or decide who is “right,” but to guide discussion, narrow issues, and help spouses reach practical agreements on custody, support, and property. While each family is unique, common topics include: Parenting plans (legal and physical custody) Holidays and decision-making authority Child support and related expenses Spousal support Community property and debt allocation Move-away or relocation questions Communication and co-parenting expectations The mediator keeps the conversation organized and ensures each spouse has the opportunity to be heard. Mediation may occur with both spouses in the same room, or through “caucusing” — the mediator shuttling between rooms if emotions run high or communication breaks down. This structure often reduces conflict and encourages creative problem-solving. Unlike court, which depends on judges’ calendars and months of discovery, mediation typically moves quickly. Many families resolve all major issues in a half-day or full-day session. Everything discussed in mediation is confidential. Nothing said becomes public record, and neither party risks having private matters aired in open court. The focus is not on “winning,” but on reaching agreements that are workable, predictable, and beneficial to children and the family unit. If an agreement is reached during the session, the parties will sign a written agreement of the terms. The parties can provide the agreement to a lawyer to file, or they can choose to retain an SNW attorney to file the agreement with the court. Once filed with the court and signed by the judge, the agreement becomes an enforceable order of the court. If an agreement is not reached during the session, the parties can schedule an additional mediation session. About the Mediator Johnston Burkhardt is a family lawyer and registered Mediator listed on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Mediator Registry. He is a Child Custody and Visitation Mediator versed in community property partition, custody, child and spousal support, and all issues that arise during divorce. To learn more about mediation or schedule a consultation, contact Johnston at (504) 324-2141 or johnston@snw.law . 

What Happens After an Agreement Is Reached in Mediation? When a mediation session results in resolution, it transitions into finalizing documents and securing court approval where necessary. Step 1: Preparing Written Agreements Any terms reached in mediation are reduced to writing. This may include: Custody and visitation plans Child support and expense allocation Spousal support Community property division Reimbursement claims Parenting and communication expectations Clarity is crucial to avoid future disputes. Step 2: Reviewing and Signing Both spouses have the opportunity to review the agreement before signing. The mediator will review the agreements with the spouses in detail to make sure that are understanding and in agreement. Step 3: Filing With the Court For divorces and custody matters, agreements are typically submitted to the court for approval by a judge. Because the issues have already been resolved, the court’s role is limited and usually administrative — no contested hearings, no testimony, and no trial. Interested in Mediation? Compared to litigation, the post-mediation process is significantly faster and more predictable. Many divorces are finalized in weeks — not years. If you are exploring divorce and want a respectful, efficient pathway forward, mediation may be the right fit. To learn more, contact family lawyer and registered Mediator Johnston Burkhardt at (504) 324-2141 or johnston@snw.law

Who Can Benefit From Divorce and Family Law Mediation? Mediation isn’t just for couples who agree on everything — in fact, many spouses choose mediation precisely because they don’t agree. The process is designed to help families communicate, problem-solve, and make informed decisions about their future without turning private matters into public litigation. Spouses Seeking a More Peaceful Divorce Mediation is ideal for couples who want to: Avoid adversarial courtroom proceedings Maintain respect and privacy Protect their children from conflict Keep control over the outcome instead of handing decisions to a judge Spouses With Property or Financial Considerations Mediation is particularly useful in divorce matters involving: Community property partition Household debt allocation Retirement accounts Family businesses Reimbursements or claims Spousal support (temporary or final) A neutral mediator helps clarify financial questions and explore middle-ground solutions. Parents Focused on Co-Parenting Co-parenting works best when communication remains respectful. Mediation helps parents work through: Custody schedules Holidays and school breaks Co-parent responsibilities Child support and expenses Future decision-making (schools, activities, healthcare, etc.) Parents are more likely to abide by agreements they create themselves rather than those imposed by the court. Families Seeking Efficiency and Cost Savings Traditional divorce can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Mediation often costs a fraction, with spouses sharing one mediator instead of hiring lawyers to litigate for months or years. People Who Are “Mostly on the Same Page” Some spouses arrive with a near-complete agreement and need help polishing terms, preparing documents, or filing with the court. Others come in with only a few unresolved issues. If You Think Mediation Might Work for Your Family Johnston Burkhardt practices family law and is a registered Child Custody and Visitation Mediator. To determine whether mediation is a fit for your circumstances, contact Johnston for a free consultation at johnston@snw.law or (504) 324-2141.

When a Movable Becomes Part of the Land: A Quick Guide to Louisiana Acquisitive Prescription In Louisiana, you can become the owner of a “movable” (anything that isn’t real estate - like a mobile/manufactured home, equipment, car, artwork) by acquisitive prescription—ownership earned through possession over time. 3-year route: If you possess the item as owner in good faith and under a document capable of transferring ownership (e.g., a bill of sale), uninterrupted for three years, you acquire ownership. 10-year route: Even without a valid title document or good faith, uninterrupted possession as owner for ten years can also confer ownership. In either case, possession must be public, peaceable, and unequivocal. Time can tack from prior possessors if there’s no interruption. Separately, some movables—like manufactured homes—can be immobilized by judgment, making them legally part of the real estate so lenders and title insurers can treat them like improvements to the land. Our recent case, in a nutshell. A decades-old manufactured home sat on rural property without a recoverable paper title or serial/VIN. The lender required clear title or proof the home was legally part of the land. SNW attorney Johnston Burkhardt came up with a solution: establish ownership by acquisitive prescription and obtain a judgment of immobilization. This was a genuinely unusual problem our firm hadn’t confronted in this exact configuration. We secured the immobilization judgment, clearing the title issue so the transaction could move forward. Why it matters. Missing titles and legacy improvements can stall closings. Pairing acquisitive prescription principles with immobilization can unlock financing, cure underwriting concerns, and deliver marketable title. We like hard problems. If you’re facing a one-off title tangle involving real property or another unusual legal issue, we’re ready to help map the fastest, cleanest route to resolution. For a free consultation, contact Johnston Burkhardt at 504-313-4199 or johnston@snw.law.

Buying property at a tax sale can be a smart way to acquire real estate, but your work isn’t finished when the gavel falls. What you purchase is tax sale title—a limited, conditioned ownership interest that still allows the former owner and other interested parties to challenge the sale or redeem the property for a period of time. To unlock full, marketable ownership, you typically need to quiet title (also called confirming the tax sale). In most cases involving immovable property (real estate), the former owner has three years from the recording of the tax sale deed/certificate to redeem their ownership. Louisiana law requires strict pre-sale and post-sale notice to owners and other “interested persons” (mortgage holders, lienholders, heirs, etc.). Defects in notice can jeopardize the sale—even after the redemption period—on due-process grounds. Why Quieting Title Is Necessary Even after the redemption period expires, title insurers and lenders usually won’t treat your tax sale deed as “clean.” A quiet title judgment cuts off redemption rights and other claims by the previous owner. It also resolves due-process concerns by demonstrating you identified and served all interested parties, and it creates insurable, marketable title so you can finance, sell, or develop the property with confidence. Quieting title is achieved through a civil suit against the previous owner and providing mandated notices to all “interested persons.” Serving interested parties is typically the biggest challenge in tax sales, as the previous owners could be deceased or unable to be located. Once the judgment to quiet title is granted, it gets recorded in the conveyance records to put the public on notice that you have full ownership of the property. Quieting title after a Louisiana tax sale is an intricate procedure that requires an experienced real estate attorney. Our firm regularly guides investors, developers, and individuals through quieting tax sale title to deliver marketable, insurable ownership. If you bought at a tax sale or are considering it, contact Johnston Burkhardt at 504-313-4199 or johnston@snw.law to evaluate your path to clean title.

On Tuesday October 7, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit further cabined the ability of the City of New Orleans to govern short-term rentals (“STRs”). In an appeal in the ongoing Hignell-Stark suit regarding the regulation of Non-Commercial STRs, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the ruling of the Eastern District in several respects. However, the Court made three rulings against the City of New Orleans that change the landscape significantly. First, the Court held that ordinances that limited licenses for STRs to natural persons (thereby excluding corporations and limited liability companies) violate the Equal Protection Clause. The ordinances had required that STR licenses and operator’s licenses be held by “natural persons.” The Court held that natural persons and corporations were similarly situated for purposes of the Equal Protection Clause and then found that discrimination did not bear rational basis scrutiny. “Nothing…identifies a plausible connection between an STR homeowner’s juridical status and the behavior of STR guests.” Next, the Court identified several claims that sections of the city ordinances governing advertising violated the First Amendment. The Court disagreed with the appellants on all points, save for one hot-button issue. The Court held that the code’s requirement that “’each short-term rental listing advertises only one dwelling unit’ lacks the justification necessary to survive First Amendment scrutiny.” At first blush, this might not seem like a meaningful ruling; however, property owners have long sought to cross-list properties to prospective guests, advertising, for example that two properties were next door to one another, thereby allowing multiple parties to book together. This ruling is likely the most frustrating aspect of the judgment for those seeking to limit large bookings at STRs. Finally, the Court rejected the argument that the City's resident-operator requirement violated the Dormant Commerce Clause. However, the Court held that the City’s interpretation (and judicial admission) that the law “only requires the operator to be present at the property while guests are present” survived the Dormant Commerce Clause analysis. Under the Court’s analysis the resident-operator requirement only survives under the interpretation that “the Code’s language requires that an operator reside on the STR property only while it is actively occupied by guests.” With new STR ordinances expected in the coming months, it is possible that the City starts from scratch, or it may try to take the case to the United States Supreme Court. Contact Graham Williams if you have further questions.