Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions - Louisiana

Date: January 2022

Jurisdiction

Citation: Children's Code Art. 1180

The juvenile court has jurisdiction over adoption petitions.

Venue

Citation: Children's Code Art. 1180

The petition shall be filed in the juvenile court of the parish (county) in which one of the following applies:

  • Where the petitioner is domiciled
  • Where the custodian of the child is domiciled
  • Where a voluntary act of surrender with respect to the child to be adopted has been executed
  • Where the child has been adjudicated a child in need of care or the child in need of care proceeding is pending
  • Where the parental rights of a parent with respect to the child to be adopted have previously been terminated