Source: https://www.maritallaws.com/states/louisiana/visitation
Timestamp: 2019-11-12 02:46:05
Document Index: 597442704

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART. 136', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§2', '§1', '§1', '§344', '§1', '§1', '§2']

Louisiana Visitation Laws - Child Visitation Rights, Grandparent Visitation, And More
Louisiana Child Custody Guide :: Table of Contents
Louisiana Child Visitation Law Summary
Child Visitation For Grandparents, Relatives, and Third PartiesLouisiana
Louisiana Child Visitation Law Text
In general, courts in Louisiana assume that it is beneficial for both biological parents of a child to have shared custody or visitation, unless it is shown to be against the child's best interests. A biological parent who is denied custody may be awarded visitation rights to provide for a relationship between the parent and child.
Visitation by grandparents, family members, or other third-parties is less clear cut in Louisiana, and nationwide. While there are state guidelines regarding third-party visitation in certain situations, these laws are frequently challenged.
Above all else, courts in Louisiana strive to make custody and visitation decisions that are "in the best interests of the child". The court handling each individual visitation case has significant flexibility in determining what arrangement is in the child's best interests. You can read about Louisiana's visitation guildelines on this page.
Louisiana Visitation Court Considerations Table
Louisiana Child Visitation Summary
The capacity and disposition of each party to give the child love, affection, and spiritual guidance and to continue the education and rearing of the child
The capacity and disposition of each party to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care, and other material needs
The length of time the child has lived in a stable, adequate environment, and the desirability of maintaining continuity of that environment
The moral fitness of each party, insofar as it affects the welfare of the child
The mental and physical health of each party
The home, school, and community history of the child
The willingness and ability of each party to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the child and the other party
The distance between the respective residences of the parties
The responsibility for the care and rearing of the child previously exercised by each party
A court may award visitation rights if the child's parent is deceased or declared legally incompetent, a grandparent is the parent of the deceased or incompetent parent to the grandchild, and visitation is in the child's best interest. Adoption cuts off the visitation rights of grandparents except in circumstances where the grandparents are the parents of a deceased party to the marriage or the parents of a party who has forfeited his or her rights to object to the child's adoption.
Louisiana Child Visitation For Grandparents, Relatives, and Third Parties
In the state of Louisiana, there are a number of laws regarding child visitation regarding visitation for third-parties other than the biological parents of the child. While state laws regarding third-party visitation have been frequently been challenged in courts, they are a good indication of Louisiana's positions regarding non-parental visitation rights.
Visitation Rights Of Grandparents In Louisiana:
Louisiana has special statutes regarding the child visitiation rights of grandparents under different circumstances. Under state law, the grandparents of children may obtain visitation while the parents are alive, regardless of the parent's marital status.
Regardless of state presumptions regarding grandparent's visitation rights under specific circumstances, a Louisiana court may allow or prevent visitation rights in any situation based on the best interests of the child.
Visitation Rights Of Other Parties In Louisiana:
Are step-parents granted visitation rights in the state of Louisiana?
Under Louisiana law, legal provisions do exist to grant child visitation rights to step-parents under certain circumstances, so visitation can be readily applied for. In all cases, third-party visitation rights are more likely to be granted by the court if they are deemed to be in the best interests of the child.
Can other interested parties or relatives be granted visitation rights to a child in Louisiana?
Under state of Louisiana law, it may be possible for other individuals to be granted visitation rights by the court. This might include relatives other than the child'a parents, previous caregivers, etc.
Can parents be granted visitation rights after termination of parental rights or adoption in Louisiana?
In the state of Louisiana it may not be possible to be granted visitation rights after losing parental rights or giving up a child for adoption. This is the case with both biological parents and previous guardians.
LA. CIV. CODE ANN. ART. 136LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 344LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 344
A. A parent not granted custody or joint custody of a child is entitled to reasonable visitation rights unless the court finds, after a hearing, that visitation would not be in the best interest of the child.
B. A grandparent may be granted reasonable visitation rights if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child. Before making this determination, the court shall hold a contradictory hearing as provided for in R.S. 9:345 in order to determine whether the court should appoint an attorney to represent the child.
C. Under extraordinary circumstances, any other relative, by blood or affinity, or a former stepparent or step grandparent may be granted reasonable visitation rights if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child. Extraordinary circumstances shall include a determination by a court that a parent is abusing a controlled dangerous substance.
E. In the event of a conflict between this Article and R.S. 9:344, the provisions of the statute shall supersede those of this Article.
Acts 1992, No. 782, §1; Acts 1993, No. 261, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, No. 57, §1; Acts 2009, No. 379, §2; Acts 2012, No. 763, §1, eff. June 12, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 586, §1.
§344. Visitation rights of grandparents and siblings
A. If one of the parties to a marriage dies, is interdicted, or incarcerated, and there is a minor child or children of such marriage, the parents of the deceased, interdicted, or incarcerated party without custody of such minor child or children may have reasonable visitation rights to the child or children of the marriage during their minority, if the court in its discretion finds that such visitation rights would be in the best interest of the child or children.
B. When the parents of a minor child or children live in concubinage and one of the parents dies, or is incarcerated, the parents of the deceased or incarcerated party may have reasonable visitation rights to the child or children during their minority, if the court in its discretion finds that such visitation rights would be in the best interest of the child or children.
C. If one of the parties to a marriage dies or is incarcerated, the siblings of a minor child or children of the marriage may have reasonable visitation rights to such child or children during their minority if the court in its discretion finds that such visitation rights would be in the best interest of the child or children.
D. If the parents of a minor child of the marriage have lived apart for a period of six months, in extraordinary circumstances, the grandparents or siblings of the child may have reasonable visitation rights to the child during his minority, if the court in its discretion finds that such visitation rights would be in the best interest of the child. In determining the best interest of the child the court shall consider the same factors contained in Civil Code Article 136(D). Extraordinary circumstances shall include a determination by a court that a parent is abusing a controlled dangerous substance.
Acts 1993, No. 261, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1352, §1; Acts 2012, No. 763, §2, eff. June 12, 2012.
Source: http://www.maritallaws.com/states/louisiana/visitation