Louisiana's Residency Requirements

The petitioner must have been a Louisiana resident for 1 year before filing the divorce papers.

Louisiana's Grounds for Divorce

Louisiana residents may file for divorce under fault or no-fault grounds.

Louisiana's no-fault grounds is:

• living apart and separate for 180 days without reconciliation

Louisiana's fault grounds include:

• adultery
• conviction of a felony

Louisiana's Child Custody Guidelines

Divorcing parents are allowed to collaborate on a child custody arrangement. If the parents cannot reach a decision, a Louisiana court will make a ruling.

Louisiana courts consider factors such as:

• the physical, emotional, mental, social, and religious needs of the child
• wishes of the child
• each parent's intent to place the child under the care of a non-custodial parent
• child's adjustment to the community, school, and home

Louisiana's Child Support Guidelines

If the parents cannot agree on the amount of child support and the paying parent, child support will be decided by state-specific calculations and guidelines.

Louisiana courts consider factors such as:

• each parent's financial resources
• the needs of the child

Louisiana's Spousal Support Guidelines

Spousal support can be paid in one lump sum, in installments, or periodically. The spouses may determine the spousal support amount and payment schedule, or the courts may award spousal support.

Louisiana courts consider factors such as:

• the needs of each spouse
• duration of the marriage
• each spouse's earning capacity and financial resources

Louisiana's Property Division Guidelines

Louisiana has adopted community property division guidelines, meaning all property acquired during the marriage will be divided into two equal parts. Spouses may collaborate on the property distribution, but if they are unable to agree the courts will make a ruling.

Louisiana courts will consider factors such as:

• the value of each spouse's property
• needs of the child
• any custodial arrangements
• each spouse's financial situation after the divorce

Louisiana's Venue Guidelines

A petitioner may file the divorce forms in their county of residence, or in the respondent's Louisiana county of residence.