What is an abandonment affidavit for adoption in Louisiana?

An abandonment affidavit in Louisiana is a sworn written statement that lays out the facts showing the other biological parent has abandoned the child, so your stepparent adoption can go forward without that parent's agreement. It is filed with your petition in the District Court in your parish.

The period that matters: Louisiana sets the abandonment period at 6 months under La. Ch.C. Art. 1245. Your affidavit should describe the other parent's absence clearly enough that the court can compare it to that period. Whether your particular facts meet the statute is for the court to decide, so if you are unsure, ask the District Court clerk in your parish or an attorney.

What a strong affidavit usually covers:

• The date of the last contact between the other parent and the child
• What the absence looked like: visits, calls, messages, or none at all
• How long the absence has lasted, in dates the court can follow
• Whether any financial support has been provided
• Any attempts you or your spouse made to keep the door open for contact

Be specific and honest. Dates and concrete details are more useful to a judge than general statements, and a sworn statement should only include what you know to be true.

If you don't know where the other parent is: Louisiana allows personal service by the sheriff. If the parent's location is unknown, it allows service by publication after due diligence. Your affidavit can document the steps you took to try to find them. The clerk or an attorney can tell you what the court expects for a diligent search in your situation.

If the other parent objects: A contested case depends heavily on its facts. Talk with an attorney about that specific issue rather than relying on a form alone.

Other points that may come up:

• Louisiana does not require the child's consent, though the court asks for and considers the wishes of a child 12 or older (La. Ch.C. Art. 1253(C)).
• Court filing fees in Louisiana typically run $200-$400, and a stepparent adoption usually takes 3-6 months.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online about your family and the other parent's absence, and we prepare the complete court document package for your parish, including the affidavit drafted from your answers. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child, and you receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We back every package with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 881 Louisiana families, and 34,000+ families nationally since 2001.