How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Louisiana?

To adopt your stepchild in Louisiana, you file a Petition for Intrafamily Adoption with the District Court in your parish, complete the required paperwork, and ask the court to approve the adoption. Louisiana's process is set out in Louisiana Children's Code Title XII, and it is a clear path for stepparents.

The basic steps

• Confirm you are domiciled in Louisiana. Louisiana has no minimum residency period (La. Ch.C. Art. 1180), but your permanent home needs to be in the state.
• Prepare the petition and supporting papers. These include the Petition for Intrafamily Adoption and a sworn statement of financial responsibility. Your spouse's consent to the adoption is also part of the paperwork.
• File with the District Court. Louisiana has 64 parishes, and you file in the District Court of your parish. The court filing fee typically runs $200-$400.
• Notify the other legal parent. Louisiana allows personal service by sheriff. If that parent's location is unknown, service by publication is allowed after due diligence.
• Attend the hearing. The judge reviews your case and, if satisfied, signs the adoption decree.

If the other parent is involved. If the child's other legal parent agrees, the process is usually simpler to prepare. If that parent does not agree or cannot be found, Louisiana's abandonment provision (La. Ch.C. Art. 1245) uses a six-month period. Whether it applies depends on the facts, so talk to an attorney or the District Court clerk about your situation, especially if the case could be contested.

Your stepchild's role. Louisiana does not require the child's consent. However, the court asks for and considers the wishes of a child 12 or older (La. Ch.C. Art. 1253(C)).

Home study. A home study is waived in Louisiana for this type of adoption (La. Ch.C. Art. 1252(A)). That removes a step that can add time and expense elsewhere.

Timeline and cost. A stepparent adoption in Louisiana typically takes about 3-6 months. Total costs are typically under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ when hiring an attorney. Your actual timing depends on the court's schedule and how quickly any required notice is completed.

Good to know. Questions such as who else must consent in your particular family, or how the court handles an unusual situation, depend on your facts. The District Court clerk in your parish can confirm local procedures, forms and scheduling. The Louisiana Office of Vital Records is the state agency to ask about records after the adoption is final.

How we help. StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your parish. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child, plus $99 for each additional child. You receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, backed by a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 881 Louisiana families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.