This category is about making child custody orders and parenting plans, modifying it and enforcing it, getting visitation for different family members, and dealing with abductions by a family member.
Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator
Not sure where to start your legal research? Try the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator. Answer a few questions about yourself and your situation to get customized legal information, local court forms, referrals to legal aid, and more. Available for Divorce, Child Custody, Employment Law, and private Landlord-Tenant Law.
Getting A Child Custody Order
This resource covers information about how to get a child custody order. This includes situations where the parents may agree to a custody arrangement or when the court orders custody.
Nonparent Custody And Visitation
This resource covers nonparent custody and visitation issues and information. Nonparent custody and visitation issues refer to situations where a person who is not the biological parent of a child seeks custody or visitation rights. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as when a grandparent, stepparent, or other close relative wants to take care of a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so.
Child Custody And Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
This information covers the juvenile court system and how it may have jurisdiction over cases involving children who are under the age of 18 and who are alleged to have committed a delinquent act or status offense. Additionally, the juvenile court may have jurisdiction over child custody cases in certain situations.
Provisional Custody By Mandate
This information covers provisional custody by mandate and provides a form to use to allow a parent, tutor, or grandparent with custody, without the need for court intervention to transfer custody of a child to another person for a limited period of time.
Understanding The Best Interest Of The Child
Louisiana courts use the "best interest of the child" standard to determine custody. This article lays out the factors that make up the "best interest of the child" test used by the courts and explains how the factors can influence a judge's decision on custody.
Emergency Ex Parte Custody
In some cases, there may be a need for a court order relating to child custody before the other parent or party can be heard before the Court. A custody order entered before the other party has an opportunity to respond is called "ex parte," and they are available in limited, usually emergency, circumstances.
Modify Prior Voluntary Transfer of Custody
Sample motion and consent order for use in a state district court, when both parents agree to change physical/legal custody of a minor child.
Child Custody Dictionary
A plain-language guide to understanding words used in child custody cases. Click on the terms to see the definitions and find links to in-depth articles explaining more complicated issues.
Child Custody Guided Assistant
This Guided Assistant tool can help you find information and forms related to your child custody issues. This tool is not legal advice. This tool does not not take the place of legal advice from a competent attorney licensed in your state and familiar with the law and facts of your legal issue.
Child Custody, Parenting Plans, And Visitation
This resource covers general information on child custody orders, parenting plans, and visitation. This includes information about how to establish, enforce, and modify custody. This also includes information about how to get visitation to see a child.
Enforcing A Child Custody Order
This resource goes over the issues of enforcing a child custody order. If one parent is not complying with the order, the other parent may need to know their rights to ask the court to enforce the custody order. This information also goes over the process of filing a contempt order if one parent is in violation of the custody order.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resource Guide
The resource is about custody, visitation, and other legal problems that face grandparents.
Modifying Child Custody
This resource explains when the law allows a party to ask for a change in a custody judgment. It discusses the differences between changing a consent versus considered judgment of custody. This resource goes over the process to change a consent child custody judgment.
Registering Out-Of-State Custody Judgments In Louisiana
Before a Louisiana court will change or enforce a custody judgment originally entered by an out-of-state court, the custody judgment must be registered with the appropriate Louisiana court. This resource gives a step-by-step explanation of how to register an out-of-state custody judgment.
Relocating With A Child
This resource covers situations where you may need to relocate or move with your child. This resource covers what to do when you are moving to a new location and the impact on your existing custody and visitation arrangements.
Understanding Child In Need Of Care (CINC) Cases
This information is about Child In Need Of Care (CINC) cases and how they are handled. In these cases, the court decides that a child needs help and support to make sure they are safe and well. This guide helps you understand CINC cases, why they exist, and how decisions are made to take care of children who need help.