Child Custody & Support

Shreveport Child Custody Lawyers

Child Custody | Child Support | Minor Child Relocation

Louisiana provides joint custody of children. However, joint custody does not mean that both parents have equal time with the child or children. Most cases end up with one parent (the domiciliary parent) having primary custody while the other parent has visitation rights.

Over the last 10 years, Louisiana law has been moving in the direction of equal parenting rights and providing as much parenting time to each party as possible. In a shared custody arrangement, both parents would have equal amounts of time with the children, but one parent would still have primary custody for decisions affecting children.

Decisions Affecting Children

The custodial or domiciliary parent is free to make all decisions affecting the child in the event of conflict with the other spouse. The decision of the domiciliary parent is presumed to be in the best interests of the child. To overturn the custodial parent's decision, the noncustodial parent would have to prove in court that the custodial parent's decision was not in the best interests of the child or children.

Child Support

Child support payments in Louisiana are determined by a formula that considers such factors as the income of each parent and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. The amount of child support can be changed if circumstances change. For example, if the parent who pays child support loses his or her job or is forced to take a lower paying job, the amount of child support can be reduced.

Additional Resources: Louisiana Child Support Calculator

Relocation of a Minor Child's Residence

Louisiana has a Relocation of a Minor Child's Residence statute, which any custodial or domiciliary parent must comply with before a minor child can be moved without the other parent's consent.

Our Child Custody Attorneys

Free Initial Consultation: Contact a child custody lawyer at Weems, Schimpf, Gilsoul, Haines, Landry & Carmouche (APLC).