Can I adopt my stepchild who was born in another country in Louisiana?

Yes, you can file for a stepparent adoption in a Louisiana District Court for a stepchild who was born in another country, and the Louisiana steps are the ones below. Details that are specific to a foreign birth, such as translations or immigration questions, are best confirmed with the District Court clerk in your parish or an attorney.

Where it is filed: Your case is filed in the District Court in your parish. Louisiana has 64 parishes, and the clerk in your parish can tell you how local filing works. The governing law is Louisiana Children's Code Title XII.

Residency: Louisiana has no specific residency duration requirement (La. Ch.C. Art. 1180). You must be domiciled in Louisiana, meaning it is your permanent home.

Consent and the child's wishes: Louisiana does not require the child's consent. The court asks for and considers the wishes of a child 12 or older (La. Ch.C. Art. 1253(C)). Your stepchild's country of birth does not change that wording.

The other biological parent: When a child was born abroad, the other parent may live overseas or be hard to find. Louisiana's abandonment provision uses a six-month period (La. Ch.C. Art. 1245). For notice, Louisiana allows personal service by sheriff, or service by publication if the parent's location is unknown after due diligence. If the other parent might object, or you are unsure how the court will treat your situation, an attorney or the clerk can advise on that specific issue.

Home study: Louisiana waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (La. Ch.C. Art. 1252(A)).

Documents from abroad: Expect the court to want proof of your stepchild's identity and birth. Whether your court needs a certified English translation of a foreign birth certificate, or other foreign records, is something the District Court clerk can confirm.

Birth certificate and immigration: The Louisiana Office of Vital Records is the agency to ask about a new or amended birth record after the adoption is final, and whether it can issue one for a child born abroad. If your stepchild's citizenship or immigration status is a concern, talk to an immigration attorney. A state adoption order and an immigration outcome are separate questions.

Timeline and cost:

• Typical timeline for a stepparent adoption in Louisiana: 3-6 months
• Court filing fee range: $200