Louisiana Divorce Laws

Louisiana divorce laws for people considering a Louisiana divorce or filing a Louisiana divorce with issues to be resolved about child custody, child support, visitation and alimony.  Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure  can be viewed at  http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?folder=68.  Civil Codes cover but are not limited to the following subjects:

•Divorce Definitions

•Divorce Residency Requirements

•Grounds for Divorce

•Uncontested Divorce

•Simplified Divorce Process

•Military Divorce Laws

•Child Custody

•Child Support Considerations

•Child Support Definitions

•Child Support Guidelines

•Spousal Support, Maintenance, and Alimony guidelines

•Property Division Considerations

•Grandparents’ Rights

Louisiana Divorce Definitions

These definitions will help you understand some unique characteristics to the Louisiana Divorce laws, process and paperwork which is filed with the court.

Filing Party Title: Petitioner- The spouse who will initiate the Divorce by filing the required paperwork with the court.

Non-Filing Party Title: Respondent -The spouse who does not initiate the Divorce with the court.

Court Name: ____ Judicial District Court Parish of ______ , Louisiana -The proper name of the court in which a Divorce is filed in the state of Louisiana. Each jurisdictional court typically has a domestic relations or a family law department or division.

Child Support Enforcement Website: http://www.dss.state.la.us/-The state run office devoted to enforcing existing child support orders and collecting any past due child support.

Document Introduction: In Re the Marriage of: -The lead-in verbiage used in the legal caption or header of the documents filed with the court. The introduction typically prefaces both spouse’s names.

Initial Divorce Document: Petition for Divorce-The title and name of the legal document that will initiate the Louisiana Divorce process. The filing spouse is also required to provide the non-filing spouse a copy of this document.

Final Divorce Document: Judgment of Divorce- The title and name of the legal document that will finalize the Louisiana Divorce process. This document will be signed by the judge, master, or referee of the court to declare your marriage officially terminated.

Clerk’s Office Name: District Clerk’s Office -The office of the clerk that will facilitate the Divorce process. This is the title you would address letters to or ask for when contacting the courthouse.

Legal Separation: The grounds for legal separation (separation from bed and board) in Louisiana are the same as those for divorce from a covenant marriage (with the addition of habitual drunkeness). However, a spouse may petition the court for spousal and/or child support and restitution of separate property during a marriage. This is intended to provide for those spouses who desire to live apart, but not divorce. [Louisiana Statutes Annotated; Article 9, Chapters 291 and 307].

Property Distribution: Community Property -The applicable Louisiana law that will dictate how property and debt is to be divided upon Divorce.

Louisiana Divorce Resources -

Louisiana Specific Divorce Overview

Louisiana Specific Divorce Articles -

Louisiana Specific Divorce Documents -

Louisiana Specific Divorce Professionals -