Business Details
21 Years
experience
Your Trusted Title Partner in New Orleans and Mississippi
Since 2005, Desire Title has established itself as a trusted partner in real estate transactions across Louisiana and Mississippi. Our foundation in New Orleans' historic Uptown district reflects our commitment to blending traditional diligence with modern legal expertise. As a team of licensed attorneys and closing specialists, we bring decades of combined experience in title services, estate planning, and real estate law. Our ALTA Best Practices certification and membership in the American Land Title Association underscore our adherence to national standards while maintaining local insight. With offices in New Orleans and Oxford, Mississippi, we serve clients from first-time homebuyers to commercial developers, prioritizing transparency and personalized service.Our legal background in litigation and transactional law equips us to handle complex title issues with precision. We distinguish ourselves through on-site closing capabilities and a deep understanding of regional real estate nuances. As fifth-generation New Orleanians and Ole Miss affiliates, we combine generational knowledge with cross-state expertise. Our approach eliminates corporate intermediaries, ensuring direct, trustworthy interactions from contract to close. This commitment to community-rooted service has guided thousands of successful transactions over two decades.
Services
Residential Closings
Commercial Closings
Title Insurance
Estate Planning
Successions
1031 Exchanges
Quiet Title Actions
Lien Clearance
Escrow Services
Notary Services
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer decades of legal experience in Louisiana and Mississippi real estate transactions.
- Our team includes ALTA Best Practices certified attorneys with trial-tested expertise.
- We provide direct attorney involvement from contract review to closing.
- We combine local market knowledge with nationwide title industry standards.
- We handle complex title issues with the same care as first-time home purchases.
Associations and certifications
- American Land Title Association
- ALTA Best Practices
Services
Residential Closings
We facilitate seamless residential real estate transactions from historic Garden District properties to new developments. Our attorney-led process ensures legal compliance, title clarity, and personalized guidance for first-time buyers and seasoned investors. Clients benefit from our deep understanding of Louisiana's unique property laws and Mississippi's regulatory landscape.
Title Insurance
Our title insurance services protect property owners and lenders against claims from defects in title history. We conduct thorough examinations to identify liens, encumbrances, or ownership disputes before issuing policies. Clients receive proactive risk mitigation backed by our legal expertise and industry certifications.
Estate Planning
We create comprehensive estate plans including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney tailored to Louisiana's civil law system. Our attorneys help clients protect assets, plan successions, and establish guardianships while maintaining compliance with state-specific regulations and tax considerations.
1031 Exchanges
We guide investors through IRS-compliant 1031 exchange processes to defer capital gains taxes when reinvesting property proceeds. Our services include documentation preparation, timeline management, and coordination with qualified intermediaries to ensure seamless transitions between investment properties.
Quiet Title Actions
Our team resolves complex title disputes through quiet title litigation and alternative dispute resolution methods. We address issues like boundary conflicts, heirship claims, and clouded ownership histories using our combined litigation experience and real estate law expertise to secure clear property rights.
People
Sharon Andrews
Attorney | Owner
With 40 years of litigation and transactional experience, Sharon Andrews leads our Oxford, MS office. A Tulane Law graduate, she specializes in real estate, title, and business law, bringing expertise from prosecuting economic crimes to complex property transactions.
Desire Valenti
Attorney | Owner
As managing partner and fifth-generation New Orleanian, Desire Valenti oversees operations with 20+ years of legal expertise. A Loyola Law School graduate, she specializes in real estate litigation and succession planning, combining trial-tested skills with personalized service.
Mark Bonura
Attorney
Mark Bonura offers 25+ years of Louisiana real estate law experience. A Loyola University graduate, he focuses on transactions and successions, leveraging his title production background to deliver accurate, compliant solutions for individuals and businesses.
Keith Andrews
Founder
The late Keith Andrews founded Desire Title in 2005, combining legal and accounting expertise to create a trusted title service. His legacy continues through innovative practices that merge financial analysis with legal protection in real estate transactions.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We provide title services across Louisiana and Mississippi, with offices in New Orleans and Oxford. Our team handles transactions statewide in both markets.
Are your attorneys specialized in real estate law?
All our attorneys have specialized real estate law training, with certifications including ALTA Best Practices and Louisiana Appellate Practice Specialization.
Can you handle complex title issues?
Yes, our team resolves complex matters like quiet title actions, lien clearance, and tax sale redemptions using combined litigation and transactional expertise.
Do you offer estate planning services?
We provide comprehensive estate planning including wills, trusts, successions, and powers of attorney tailored to Louisiana's unique legal framework.
How do you ensure transaction security?
We implement ALTA Best Practices standards, conduct thorough title examinations, and maintain title insurance policies to protect against ownership disputes.
Can you assist with investment property exchanges?
Yes, we facilitate 1031 tax-deferred exchanges with documentation preparation, timeline management, and intermediary coordination for commercial property investors.
