In Louisiana, when parents are married and have a baby together, they have legal parental rights and responsibilities to the child. The parenting rights are immediate and equal from the moment the child is born. The same does not hold true for unmarried parents. When...
Many Louisiana couples make the decision to seek alternatives to marriage. This decision is personal and best made together, in the best interests of both parties. However, when it comes to children, there are considerations that fathers must make. Do both parents...
A recent family court outcome is being heralded as a victory for families who choose an alternative lifestyle. The case resulted in shared custody of a 10-year-old boy between a man and two women. For those in Louisiana who have crafted families that are...
When two Louisiana parents share a child but are no longer romantically involved, there is usually an agreement in place that outlines the division of parenting time and responsibilities. Over time, that agreement might need to be modified if circumstances change or...
Louisiana men are not always sure that they are the father of a child. Men request paternity tests to verify whether they fathered a woman's child. Sometimes those tests have surprising results. For example, an out-of-state man who believed he was the father of...
Before medical testing, such as DNA testing, men relied almost exclusively on the mother of a child to tell them whether they were her baby's father. Even today, many unmarried men here in Louisiana believe that they are the fathers of children based on their trust in...
Many Louisiana parents realize at some point that their relationship is not going to last. Whether married or unmarried, when they go their separate ways, working out child custody and visitation issues become a priority. Each parent might believe that he or she knows...