Protecting What Matters Most: Family, Children, Future
Louisiana is a community property state as opposed to an equitable (not equal) distribution state. That means that all real and personal property purchased during the marriage is community property, and in the event of a divorce, the spouses divide it equally. For example, if a couple purchases a home, even with separate funds, the home is marital property and…
Paternity is not automatic unless the father is married to the mother. When a couple has a child out of wedlock, the alleged father has a choice: He can file an Acknowledgement of Paternity right away, file it later, or not file it at all. It depends on whether he believes he is the father of the child. However, filing…
When a couple splits, they must decide on custody and visitation arrangements – if the couple is married. If the couple is not married, the father does not have any custody or visitation rights unless he signed an Acknowledgement of Paternity for any children born to them. In that case, the mother has sole custody of the minor children. What…
“I’ll see you in court!” is a common phrase when parties disagree. Hearing these words can instill fear in a person since the prospect of going through the legal process can be daunting and frightening. However, in recent years, parties have had a variety of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes to choose from when settling disputes. Definition of ADR Alternative…
Remarried couples commonly have blended families. Many step parents fall in love with the children they are raising and want to adopt the kids as their own. Although Louisiana adoptions can have lengthy processes and restrictions, the process of adopting your stepchild is usually less comprehensive. The Legal Requirements for Adopting a Stepchild in Louisiana To begin the adoption procedure…
Divorce affects thousands of couples, and the figures keep skyrocketing. After the divorce, the daunting process of property division sometimes hits hard for most divorcing couples to what each party should be entitled. It’s even more challenging for spouses who don’t have a prenuptial agreement at the time of divorce. Under the Louisiana civil code, community property law is precedent…
After a divorce, both parents may not have the same decision-making rights they had during the marriage. A parent’s future right to make decisions on behalf of their child is subject to a family law court’s determination that it is in the best interests of the child. The judge will determine whether one or both parents are to make decisions…
When it comes to child custody cases, the Louisiana courts assume it is healthier and more beneficial for both parents to have shared custody of a child or for the non-custodial parents to exercise their rights to visitation or temporary custody of their children. But there are times when temporary custody or visitation is not in a child’s best interest.…
There are many questions and concerns that are brought up during a divorce. This includes, but is certainly not limited to: Who gets the house? How do we divide assets? If there are children, how is custody split? Does one person have to pay spousal support or alimony? These questions will typically be addressed during a divorce proceeding and likely…
Holidays are a time for family and sharing in tradition. However, when divorce is involved, there can be additional, unwanted stress. The parents may have worked out a visitation schedule, but then the holidays come around, and both parents would like to see their children on Christmas. When dealing with unscheduled visitations, it is always best to keep the children…