Home study
Waived
Louisiana waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your house.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1252(A)
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$349
Complete Louisiana package
881 Louisiana families helped since 2001
Make Your Louisiana Family Official.Louisiana stepparent adoption, done for you, with court-ready documents for the District Court in 24-48 hours, plus authentic-act papers for adult stepchild adoptions.
We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to file, and stay with you by phone until the Louisiana judge signs your adoption decree.
$349 complete Louisiana package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
None required
Louisiana sets no residency waiting period, so you can file as soon as your papers are ready.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1180Abandonment period
6 months
If the other parent has been absent, Louisiana's abandonment period is 6 months.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1245Child's voice
Heard at 12
Your child does not have to consent. The court asks for the wishes of a child 12 or older.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1253(C)
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Louisiana families choose us
We make your Louisiana adoption simple, fast and affordable.
SimpleA 15-minute questionnaire. We do the rest and send your packet ready to sign and file.
Court approvedPrepared for your Louisiana District Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
881 Louisiana families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Louisiana courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Louisiana adoption specialist handles your case.
- We stay with you from filing to the new birth certificate.
- Unlimited revisions and real people on the phone, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST.
Start Your Louisiana AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One District Court. About 3-6 months.
Louisiana handles stepparent adoptions in the District Court under the Children's Code, and we shape every document to fit that process.
First, onlineTell us about your family
First, online
Tell us about your family
You answer simple questions about you, your spouse, your child and the other parent. We turn your answers into Louisiana forms. Nothing to look up in the statutes.
Louisiana Children's Code Title XIIWithin 24-48 hoursFile with the District Court
Within 24-48 hours
File with the District Court
Your court-ready packet arrives with clear filing instructions. You file in the District Court for your parish. Louisiana has no residency waiting period, so you can file right away.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1180After filingThe other parent signs or notice is given
After filing
The other parent signs or notice is given
If the other parent agrees, they sign the consent. If not, we prepare the notice, and the court can still move forward on the 6-month abandonment ground. The home study is waived.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1245Final hearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing and the judge signs the decree. We then help you request the amended birth certificate from the Louisiana Office of Vital Records.
Louisiana Office of Vital RecordsDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home for your child, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. We have helped 881 families in Louisiana.
They agree
If the other parent is willing, this is the fastest route. They sign the consent papers we prepare, and your case moves straight toward the hearing.
- We prepare the consent form for you
- The other parent signs it
- Your case goes to the District Court hearing
They won't sign, or can't be found
When the other parent will not sign or cannot be found, Louisiana's abandonment rule gives the court a path forward.
- Louisiana sets the abandonment period at 6 months
- A parent who has been absent that long does not have to sign for the adoption to be approved
- The judge can approve the adoption without that parent's signature
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it. In Louisiana, termination is not a separate lawsuit. It is part of the same adoption case.
La. Ch.C. Art. 1245In Louisiana, a judge can approve your stepparent adoption without the other parent's signature when that parent has abandoned your child for 6 months.
One flat price. The parish clerk sets the court fee.
A Louisiana family pays $349 for the complete package, $99 for each additional child, and the clerk's filing fee.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What families tell us
★★★★★
We did it! Our adoption was granted today, and we could not have done it without your help. The whole process was seamless, and the forms were accepted without any issues. My daughter now has the security of a legal father, and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you for providing such an affordable and professional service.
★★★★★
My adoption is final!!! Just a quick note to let you know that your service was awesome. I filed the same day I submitted my order. Your customer service staff was always available to help. I would recommend you to my friends Thanks again.
★★★★★
Things have been crazy around here this summer, so it has taken me a little bit to write to all of you. I just wanted to let you know that we went to court on 06/27/2005 and the judge signed the adoption papers for my son and daughter. Thank you for all your help with the paperwork and getting us started on the road with our adoption.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Louisiana packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Stepparent Adoption for the Louisiana District Court
- Consent of the other parent, or the notice and abandonment papers if the parent will not sign
- Stepparent's affidavit and supporting statements
- Notice and service forms for the District Court
- Hearing paperwork and a plain-English guide to your court date
- Final decree of adoption and the new birth certificate request for the Louisiana Office of Vital Records
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Louisiana
A stepparent can adopt an adult stepchild without court authorization. The adoption is done by authentic act, signed by the adopter and the adult, before a notary. Both spouses must sign the act to concur, or it is absolutely null, and no one may sign through an agent. No hearing is held, the birth parents' consent is not required, and the act is filed with the clerk of court of any parish. Most families finish in 4-8 weeks.
No hearingfor stepparent adoptions
Authentic actsigned before a notary
Spouses concuror the act is null
Any parishclerk of court records it
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Louisiana instructions make the process simple, and we are a phone call away at every step.
1
AnswerTell us about your family in our 15-minute questionnaire. Save and come back any time.2
Review & signYour complete packet arrives in 24–48 hours with step-by-step filing instructions.3
FileFile with your clerk. We stay with you through the hearing, the decree and the new birth certificate.
Talk to a Louisiana adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Louisiana courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 64 parishes
Filed in your parish's District Court
Louisiana has 64 parishes, and your adoption is filed in the District Court for your parish. We match your papers to that court, whether you live near New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette or Lake Charles.
New OrleansBaton RougeShreveportLafayetteLake Charles+ every parish
Adoption AI Assistant
Louisiana stepparent and adult adoption
Have questions about adopting your stepchild? Our AI assistant draws on experience from over 34,000 completed adoptions to give you accurate, helpful answers. Ask anything — it's free and confidential.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What Louisiana families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Louisiana?
You file a petition in the District Court for your parish and attend a short hearing. The other parent signs a consent, or the case moves forward without it when that parent has abandoned your child for 6 months. We prepare every document under Louisiana Children's Code Title XII. Most stepparent cases take about 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Louisiana?
Yes. A stepparent can adopt an adult stepchild without court authorization, by authentic act signed before a notary (La. Civ. Code art. 212). Both spouses must sign to concur, and no hearing is held. It usually takes 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Louisiana?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The clerk of court in your parish sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. The home study is waived, so you do not pay for one.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in Louisiana?
The adoption can still go forward without that parent's signature when the parent has abandoned your child for 6 months (La. Ch.C. Art. 1245). Notice is a routine step that we prepare, and termination is part of the same case. About 80% of our completed stepparent adoptions went forward without the other parent's consent.
Does Louisiana require a home study for stepparent adoption?
No. Louisiana waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (La. Ch.C. Art. 1252(A)). No social worker visits your home, and we prepare the papers the court actually needs.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Louisiana?
No. 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)).
Does the other parent still owe child support after a Louisiana stepparent adoption?
No. Child support going forward ends when the adoption is final, because the other parent's legal rights and duties end. Whether past-due support can still be collected depends on Louisiana law.
How do I get a new birth certificate after adopting in Louisiana?
After the judge signs the decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the Louisiana Office of Vital Records. Our packet includes that request.
Go deeper on Louisiana adoption
Every guide is written from Louisiana law.
How do I adopt an adult in Louisiana?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Louisiana?How old do you have to be to adopt in Louisiana?How do I get a copy of the adoption order in Louisiana?
All Louisiana adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Louisiana?
Join the 881 Louisiana families we have helped. Call (855) 924-0450 and start your adoption today.
Start Your Louisiana Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST