Louisiana Divorce & Separation

Separations and divorces are common in every state, but the laws and rules that govern these processes in each state can vary widely. It’s important to know the details of the laws in your state.

What are the requirements for getting a divorce in Louisiana?

Is mediation a requirement before you can get a Louisiana divorce?

What is Louisiana law on annulments?

Find the answers to your Louisiana divorce questions here.

Louisiana Legal Separation:

Legal separations are allowed in Louisiana. Separations do not end the marital relationship like a divorce would, but they can resolve nearly every other issue arising out of a previous marriage.

A separation decree will be granted if jurisdictional and residency requirements for a divorce are met, the marriage is irretrievably broken, and all issues regarding child custody and child support have been arranged for.

Grounds for Divorce/Fault – No Fault:

Louisiana has both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce. For no-fault divorces, the parties need simply show an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” for grounds.

A fault-based divorce, on the other hand, requires more specific grounds to be established, for instance: adultery, one party’s “intolerable behavior,” abandonment for one year, or both parties having lived separate and apart for more than two years.

Residency/Where to File for Divorce:

The plaintiff or the defendant must be a resident of Louisiana for 12 months before filing. If in the military, the party must have been stationed in the state, with his/her military presence maintained for the 180-day period preceding the filing of the petition.

Availability of Simplified or Special Divorce Procedures:

There are no particular simplified divorce procedures available in Louisiana, though minor time-saving and paper-saving measures do exist.

For instance, waiver of service is allowed if the defendant and a credible witness both sign off on it. Similarly, uncontested divorces can be heard before a court clerk or by sworn statements (rather than having to appear before a judge).

Louisiana Divorce/Child Support/Child Custody Lawyers:

Find an experienced Louisiana Divorce Attorney at AttorneyPages.com
Find an experienced Child Support Lawyer or Custody Lawyer at AttorneyPages.com
Post your case to a Louisiana Divorce Lawyer
How a Family Lawyer Can Help

Divorce Mediation in Louisiana:

The Louisiana “Mandatory Mediation Prior to Trial” statute requires couples to engage in mandatory mediation (alternative dispute resolution) before litigating their case in court. The circumstances in which mediation is mandatory include 1) whenever all parties agree to it, 2) upon motion by any party, with the requesting party paying the costs of mediation, and 3) upon order by the trial court, with costs allocated amongst the parties.

Louisiana Annulment

An annulment is a court declaration that your marriage is legally invalid. In other words, rather than ending a marriage via divorce, an annulment is a declaration that the marriage was never valid to begin with, for reasons including: fraud, duress, one party’s minor status, consanguinity, and in some cases the failure to consummate the marriage (by the time of the action) may be sufficient for a judge to void the marriage.

Louisiana Online Divorce Services:

LegalZoom.com – An online documentation service that helps users file for divorce.
CompleteCase.com – Offers an affordable way to file for uncontested divorces online.

Louisiana Divorce Laws: Click below to find the Louisiana Divorce laws you’re looking for:

Louisiana Divorce Law, Lawyers & Attorneys
Louisiana Divorce & Finances
Louisiana Child Custody & Louisiana Child Support
Louisiana Divorce Laws & Resources

Exploring Case Studies: Louisiana Divorce & Separation

Case Study 1: Mediation Requirement

John and Sarah, a married couple from Louisiana, decided to pursue a divorce. Before filing for divorce, they were required by Louisiana law to engage in mandatory mediation. Through the mediation process, they were able to resolve their differences and reach an agreement on issues such as property division and child custody.

Case Study 2: No-Fault Divorce

Emily and Michael, a couple living in Louisiana, wanted to end their marriage due to irreconcilable differences. They decided to pursue a no-fault divorce, citing the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” as grounds. With the help of their respective attorneys, they successfully obtained a divorce decree without having to prove any specific fault on either side.

Case Study 3: Fault-Based Divorce

David filed for a fault-based divorce against his spouse, Lisa, in Louisiana. David alleged adultery as the grounds for divorce, providing evidence of his spouse’s infidelity. The court granted the fault-based divorce based on the established grounds.