Child Support
Learn about your issue
About Child Support in Louisiana
Find out when you can get child support, how, and how much.
About Child Support Enforcement through DCFS
Child Support Enforcement Services include locating a parent, establishing paternity, establishing child support orders, enforcing orders, and collection and distribution of child support. Includes information on application and paternity testing fees as well as contact information for Child Support Enforcement.
Who Gets Custody? Who Pays Support?
Information provided by the Lousiana State Bar Association on the grounds for divorce, information on child custody and visitation, relocation of the child, child and spousal support, and property rights.
Asking a Court to Modify Child Support: Basic Information and Online Form
Use the Guide to create a court form to ask for a change to child support, also called a "modification" of child support.
Child Support Access and Visitation for Non-Custodial Parents
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services provides assistance for non-custodial parents in getting access to and visitation with their children through the courts.
Garnishing Wages of Military Personnel and Federal Employees
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about garnishing the pay of a member of the military and civilian employees paid by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
ABA Information on Child Custody and Support
Information from the American Bar Association on child custody and support, including deciding factors for custody and guidelines for support.
ABA Military Pro Bono Project
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project—managed by the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP)—accepts case referrals from military attorneys on behalf of junior-enlisted, active-duty military personnel facing civil legal issues, and it works to place these cases with pro bono attorneys. The Project is also the platform for Operation Stand-By, through which military attorneys and other pro bono attorneys may seek attorney-to-attorney guidance.
About Contempt of Court and Enforcing Court Orders
This resource explains the basics of contempt of court and enforcing court orders.
About Paternity
Find out about paternity in Louisiana. Why it's important to prove your child's paternity. How to prove paternity. How to fight a paternity suit.
Agenda for Children
Agenda for Children has served as Louisiana’s statewide child advocacy organization, as well as our region’s leading support organization for early childhood education (children ages 0-8). We work to inform public conversations on children, advocate for better policies that impact children and families, increase access to high quality early care and education, improve the quality of those experiences, and connect people to community resources. Specifically, our work improves child well-being by empowering the adults who have the greatest impact on children’s lives.
Establishing Paternity
This resource explains how paternity is determined by operation of law and how paternity can be established, changed, or disavowed by a man presumed to be the father of a child by operation of law.
Representing Yourself in Court: Your Rights and Responsibilities
Tips if you must handle your legal issue on your own without a lawyer. This document is strictly for informational purposes, it does not include legal advice.
Understanding Louisiana Child Support Guidelines
In Louisiana, Courts use a fixed formula to calculate child support. The formula is part of the Louisiana Child Support Guidelines. The formula uses the total amount of both parents' monthly incomes and the number of children they have to determine basic child support. In addition to basic child support, the formula allows for add-on expenses. Together, basic child support and add-on expenses equal total child support, which is the amount the paying parent owes each month.