Louisiana's Adoption Laws

• Adoption Records
• Consent To Adoption
• Parties To An Adoption
• Birth Father Statutes
• Adoption Expenses
• International Expenses
• General Adoption Statutes

Adoption Records

Louisiana

Statute: Ch. C. art. 616(B), (F); Rev. Stat. § 46:56(F)

Records Confidential: Yes

Persons with access to records

• CPS/State Agencies

• Agencies From Other States

• Courts/Judges

• Law Enforcement

• Attorneys General/Prosecutors

• Attorneys, GAL's

• Physicians

• Researchers

• Employers

• Parents/Guardians

• Coroners

• Review Teams

• Treatment Providers

• Public/Any Person

Persons without access to records

• Grand Juries

• Reporters of Abuse

• Subject of Reports

Other Foster parents Former foster children Court Appointed Special Advocates Legislators; schools Military authorities Probation officers Public disclosure in child fatality or near fatality cases

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Consent to Adoption

The birth mother may not sign the consent until after the 5th day following the birth of the child. If a birth parent is under the age of 18, a guardian must be appointed. The birth father may sign the consent any time before of after the birth.

Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Louisiana.

Revocation Time Frame in Louisiana

The consent is irrevocable upon signing.

Parties to an Adoption

Louisiana

• A single person, age 18 or older

• A married couple jointly

A child

• Private placement

• Child-placing agency

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Birth Father Statutes

No information currently available.

Adoption Expenses

Louisiana

1. • Reasonable medical and hospital costs of the birth mother, including pharmaceutical, travel, or other similar expenses
2. • Living expenses of the birth mother
3. • Medical, hospital, and foster care expenses of the child
4. • Reasonable expenses for counseling and training services
5. • Attorney fees and court costs
6. • Any other fees the court deems reasonable and necessary

1. • Payment for the birth mother's living expenses may not extend beyond 45 days after the birth.
2. • If a court determines that an expense is unreasonable, it may order a reduction in the amount.

 Except for expenses permitted by law, the payment or receipt of anything of value for the procurement, attempted procurement, or assistance in the procurement of a party to an act of voluntary surrender of a child for adoption is strictly prohibited.

1. • Payment of expenses may not be made contingent on the placement of a child for adoption.
2. • It is unlawful for any person to sell or surrender a child to another person for money or anything of value.

1. • An agency may charge reasonable fees for counseling and training services to the adoptive parents.
2. • Reasonable fees for home studies or investigations are permitted.
3. • Reasonable administrative expenses, including overhead, court costs, travel costs, and attorney's fees, also are permitted.

1. • A preliminary estimate and accounting of fees must be filed with the adoption petition.
2. • Each petition for an agency adoption shall be accompanied by an affidavit of accounting of all fees and charges paid or agreed to be paid.
3. • A form for the affidavit is in Ch. Code art. 1201.
4. • The final adoption decree will not be issued until the final accounting is reviewed and approved.

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

International Expenses

No information currently available.

General Adoption Statutes

Louisiana

1. • Department of Social Services
2. • Department may delegate investigation to a child placement agency

1. • Availability of child for adoption
2. • Physical and mental condition
3. • Other factors regarding suitability for adoption

1. • Family history
2. • Medical and genetic history
3. • Wishes concerning release of non-identifying information in the event of medical necessity

1. • Stability of home
2. • Moral fitness
3. • Financial capacity
4. • Adequacy of home
5. • Criminal background check
6. • Complaints of child abuse and neglect

© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.