What do I bring to the adoption finalization hearing in Louisiana?

You should bring photo ID, your copies of everything you filed with the District Court in your parish, and the key records that show who the child's legal parents are. The District Court clerk in your parish can confirm the exact list for your hearing, since local practice varies across Louisiana's 64 parishes.

Core papers to bring:

• Photo ID for you and your spouse.
• Your filed paperwork: a copy of the Petition for Intrafamily Adoption, your sworn statement of financial responsibility, and your spouse's consent to the adoption, along with anything else you filed.
• The child's certified birth certificate.
• Your marriage certificate, so the court can see your relationship to the child's parent.
• Any court notices about your hearing date, time and courtroom.

Papers that depend on your situation:

• A death certificate if the other biological parent has died.
• Proof of service or consent from the other biological parent. Louisiana allows personal service by sheriff, or service by publication if a parent's location is unknown after due diligence. Bring whatever proof applies to you.
• Proof of your Louisiana home. Louisiana has no minimum residency period (La. Ch.C. Art. 1180), but you must be domiciled in the state, meaning it is your permanent home. A driver's license or lease can help show that.
• Paperwork about a parent's absence. If your case involves a parent who has been absent, Louisiana's abandonment period is 6 months under La. Ch.C. Art. 1245. Whether your facts fit is a question for the clerk or an attorney, especially if the other parent contests the adoption or cannot be found.

What you don't need: a home study. Louisiana waives it in these cases under La. Ch.C. Art. 1252(A), so there is no home study report to carry in.

Bringing your child: Louisiana does not require the child's consent. The court does ask for and consider the wishes of a child 12 or older (La. Ch.C. Art. 1253(C)), so plan for an older child to be there and ask the clerk whether younger children should attend. Many families also bring close relatives and friends, and a phone or camera for photos. Check with the court before taking pictures.

Fees and timing: Court filing fees in Louisiana typically run $200-$400 and are paid when you file, so ask the clerk whether anything is due at the hearing. From start to finish, stepparent adoptions here typically take 3-6 months, though your hearing date depends on your parish's calendar.

After the hearing:

• Ask the clerk how to get certified copies of the signed adoption order and how many you may need.
• Use the order to request an updated birth certificate from the Louisiana Office of Vital Records.
• Update school, medical and insurance records.

Because every family's facts are different, ask the clerk or an attorney about contested cases or an unknown parent.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm.