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Custodia
El proceso de custodia
¿Cómo tomará un juez una decisión sobre la custodia?
Custody is determined according to what the judge considers to be in the child’s best interests.1
If the parents agree who is to have custody, the court will award custody according to their agreement unless:
- one of the parents has committed family violence or domestic abuse; or
- the child’s best interests require a different custody arrangement.2
If the parents do not agree or if their agreement is not in the child’s best interests, the court will award custody to the parents jointly unless:
- one of the parents has committed family violence or domestic abuse; or
- there is strong evidence that custody to only one parent is better for the child in which case that parent will get custody.2
When making a decision about the child’s best interests, the judge will consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to:
- the potential for the child to be abused, which is the most important consideration for the judge;
- love, affection, and other emotional ties between each parent and the child;
- the ability of each parent to support the emotional, educational, and material needs of the child;
- the length of time the child has lived in a stable environment, and the desirability of staying within that environment;
- the stability of the existing or proposed custodial home(s);
- the moral fitness of each parent and how it affects the child’s well-being;
- any history of substance abuse, violence, or criminal activity of the parties;
- the mental and physical health of each party; however, evidence that an abused parent suffers from the effects of past abuse by the other parent is not a reason to deny that parent custody.
- the home, school, and community history of the child;
- the reasonable preference of the child, if the judge thinks the child is old enough to give a preference;
- the willingness of each parent to encourage a close and continuing relationship between the child and the other parent except when substantial evidence of specific abusive, reckless, or illegal behavior causes a parent to have reasonable concerns for the child’s safety or well-being while in the care of the other parent;
- the distance between the homes of the parents; and
- the previous role and responsibility of each parent regarding caring for and raising the child.3
If it is proven that one parent has abused the other, the fact that the abused parent suffers from the effects of the abuse cannot be grounds for denying that parent custody.4
1 LA C.C. Art. 131
2 LA C.C. Art. 132
3 LA C.C. Art. 134(A)
4 LA C.C. Art. 134(A)(9)
¿Puede obtener la custodia alguien que no es el/la padre/madre?
If it is proven that giving joint custody or sole custody to either parent would result in substantial harm to the child, the judge will give custody to another person who is able to provide a stable living environment.1
1 LA C.C. Art. 133
Cómo el maltrato afecta el proceso de custodia
¿Puede obtener la custodia un padre que cometió violencia familiar o maltrato doméstico?
In Louisiana, the judge will assume that any parent who has a history of family violence should not be awarded sole or joint custody. A “history of family violence” can be multiple incidents of family violence or it can be a single incident of family violence that caused serious physical injury. Family violence includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
- physical abuse;
- sexual abuse; and
- any offense listed in the Criminal Code of Louisiana (except negligent injuring and defamation) that is committed by one parent against the other parent or against any of the children.1
In addition, the judge will assume that any parent who has a history of domestic abuse should not be awarded sole or joint custody. Domestic abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
- physical abuse;
- sexual abuse; and
- any physical or non-physical offense listed in the Criminal Code of Louisiana, except negligent injury and defamation, that is committed by one family member, household member, or dating partner against another, or committed by an adult against his/her parent or grandparent.2
However, the abusive parent may be able to convince the judge that s/he should get custody if the abusive parent can prove all of the following:
- the parent has successfully completed a court-monitored domestic abuse intervention program after the last instance of abuse;
- the parent is not abusing drugs or alcohol; and
- the parent’s participation as a custodial parent is required for the child’s best interest because:
- the non-abusive parent is:
- absent;
- mentally ill;
- abusing drugs; or
- there are other circumstances that negatively affect the child.3
- the non-abusive parent is:
If the judge finds that both parents have a history of family violence, custody will be given to the parent who is less likely to continue to commit family violence as long as s/he completes a court-monitored domestic abuse intervention program. If necessary to ensure the child’s safety, custody may instead be given to a non-parent as long as that the person would not allow the child to see the violent parent except as ordered by the court.4
If your child was conceived as a result of rape, see If my child was conceived as a result of rape, can the offender get any rights to my child? for more information.
1 LA R.S. 9:364(A); 9:362(4)
2 LA R.S. 9:364(A); 46:2132(3)
3 LA R.S. 9:364(A)
4 LA R.S. 9:364(B)
¿Puede obtener visitación un padre que cometió violencia familiar o maltrato doméstico?
If the other parent was abusive to you, your children, or to another household member, it’s possible that the abusive parent can only get supervised visitation. Specifically, an abusive parent would only be eligible for supervised visitation in any situation in which:
- the parent has a “history of family violence,” as defined by law, against any household member;
- the parent subjected any of his/her children or step-children to family violence, as defined by law, or domestic abuse, as defined by law; or
- the parent had the ability to prevent another person from committing family violence or domestic abuse against his/her children or step-children but s/he “willingly permitted” it to happen.1
The parent cannot get the supervised visitation, however, until s/he proves at a court hearing that s/he successfully completed a court-monitored domestic abuse intervention program since the last incident of domestic violence or family abuse. At the hearing, the judge will also consider the following when deciding whether or not to grant supervised visitation:
- evidence of the abusive parent’s current mental health condition;
- the possibility that the abusive parent will again subject his/her children, step-children, or other household member to family violence or domestic abuse;
- the possibility that the abusive parent would “willingly permit” such abuse to any of his/her children or step-children despite having the ability to prevent it;
- whether the abusive parent proved that:
- visitation would be in the best interest of the child; and
- visitation would not cause physical, emotional, or psychological damage to the child.1
1 LA R.S. § 9:341(A)
Can a parent who sexually abused my child, or another child, get custody?
In Louisiana, the judge will assume that any parent should not be awarded sole or joint custody if s/he:
- subjected any of his/her children, step-children, or any household member to sexual abuse, which is defined as committing any of the following:
- rape;
- first degree rape;
- second degree rape;
- third degree rape;
- sexual battery;
- second degree sexual battery;
- oral sexual battery;
- female genital mutilation;
- human trafficking;
- trafficking of children for sexual purposes;
- felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile (statutory rape);
- indecent behavior with juveniles;
- pornography involving juveniles;
- molestation of a juvenile or a person with a physical or mental disability;
- enticing persons into prostitution;
- crime against nature;
- aggravated crime against nature;1 or
- the parent had the ability to prevent another person from committing sexual abuse against his/her children or step-children but s/he “willingly permitted” it to happen.2
However, the sexually abusive parent may be able to convince the judge that s/he should get custody if the abusive parent can prove all of the following:
- the parent has successfully completed a treatment program designed for sexual abusers after the last instance of abuse;
- the parent is not abusing drugs or alcohol; and
- the parent’s participation as a custodial parent is required for the child’s best interest because:
- the non-abusive parent is:
- absent;
- mentally ill;
- abusing drugs; or
- there are other circumstances that negatively affect the child.3
- the non-abusive parent is:
If your child was conceived as a result of rape, see If my child was conceived as a result of rape, can the offender get any rights to my child? for more information.
1 LA R.S. §§ 9:364(A); 14:403(A)(4)(b)
2 LA R.S. § 9:364(A)
3 LA R.S. § 9:364(B)
Can a parent who sexually abused my child, or another child, get visitation?
If the other parent sexually abused you, your children, or another household member, it’s possible that the abusive parent can only get supervised visitation if s/he requests visitation in court. Specifically, a sexually abusive parent would only be eligible for supervised visitation in any situation in which a judge finds “clear and convincing evidence” that:
- the parent subjected any of his/her children, step-children, or any household member to sexual abuse, which is defined as committing any of the following:
- rape;
- first degree rape;
- second degree rape;
- third degree rape;
- sexual battery;
- second degree sexual battery;
- oral sexual battery;
- female genital mutilation;
- human trafficking;
- trafficking of children for sexual purposes;
- felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile (statutory rape);
- indecent behavior with juveniles;
- pornography involving juveniles;
- molestation of a juvenile or a person with a physical or mental disability;
- enticing persons into prostitution;
- crime against nature;
- aggravated crime against nature;1 or
- the parent had the ability to prevent another person from committing sexual abuse against his/her children, step-children, or a household member but s/he “willingly permitted” it to happen.2
The parent cannot get the supervised visitation, however, until s/he proves at a court hearing that s/he successfully completed a treatment program designed for sexual abusers. The parent can have no contact or visitation, however, before s/he proves that s/he successfully completed the treatment program. At the hearing, the judge will also consider the following when deciding whether or not to grant supervised visitation:
- evidence of the abusive parent’s current mental health condition;
- the possibility that the abusive parent will again subject his/her children, step-children, or other household member to sexual abuse in the future, either by personally committing the abuse or by “willingly permitting” someone else to do it; and
- whether the abusive parent proved that:
- visitation would be in the best interest of the child; and
- visitation would not cause physical, emotional, or psychological damage to the child.2
1 LA R.S. §§ 9:341(B); 14:403(A)(4)(b)
2 LA R.S. § 9:341(B)
Si mi hijo fue concebido como resultado de una violación, ¿puede el agresor obtener algún derecho sobre mi hijo?
If your child was conceived through a “sex offense” as defined in section 15:541(subsection 24) of the law, the offender who committed the offense cannot get any visitation rights or contact with your child.1
If there was an actual criminal conviction against the offender of a “sex offense” that resulted in the conception of your child, then this conviction could be grounds to legally terminate the offender’s parental rights.2 Whereas usually the state files to terminate someone’s parental rights, in this case, you have the right to file the termination of parental rights petition in court yourself. If the offender’s rights are terminated, it will result in the loss of custody, visitation, contact, and other parental rights of the offender regarding the child. However, the child would still keep any inheritance rights that could come from the offender.3
1 LSA-C.C. Art. 137(A)
2 LSA-C.C. Art. 1015.1
3 LSA-C.C. Art. 1004.1
Información adicional y enlaces
¿Debo comenzar un caso en la corte para pedir visitas supervisadas?
Si usted no está cómodo/a con el hecho de que la persona agresora esté a solas con su hijo/a, pude que usted quiera considerar pedirle a el/la juez/a que las visitas sean supervisadas. Si usted tiene ya un caso abierto en la corte porque la persona agresora solicitó custodia o visitación, entonces no tiene nada que perder con pedirle a el/la juez/a que las visitas sean supervisadas.
Sin embargo, si usted no tiene un caso abierto en la corte, por favor obtenga un consejo legal antes de pedirle visitas supervisadas a el/la juez/a. Recomendamos que hable con un/a abogado/a que se especialice en casos de custodia, para averiguar qué tiene que probarle a el/la juez/a para que le otorgue visitas supervisadas y cuánto tiempo podrían durar, dependiendo de su caso.
En la mayoría de los casos, las visitas supervisadas son una medida temporal y cada orden de visitación va a depender de cada estado, condado o juez/a. El/la juez/a puede ordenar que un/a profesional observe el comportamiento de el/la padre/madre en algunas de las visitas o las visitas pueden ser supervisadas por un/a familiar durante algunos meses – y si no hay ningún problema, lo más probable es que las visitas dejen de ser supervisadas. A menudo, el/la padre/madre termina teniendo vistas más frecuentes y por más largas que antes de ir a corte. Puede que el también termine teniendo la custodia compartida.
En algunos casos, para proteger a su hijo/a de peligro inmediato de la persona agresora, es apropiado empezar un caso en la corte sobre custodia y visitación. Para saber si eso es lo mejor para su caso, vaya a LA Encontrando a un Abogado.
¿Dónde puedo encontrar más información sobre la custodia en Luisiana?
The following links may be helpful:
- For information about grandparent’s custody and visitation rights, you can read the resource guide published by the Governor’s office of Elderly Affairs.
- The Louisiana State Bar Association has information about custody in their divorce brochure, including information about the factors a judge will consider when determining what custody arrangement is in the child’s best interests.
- LouisianaLawHelp.org has additional links with Louisiana-specific custody information.
Please note that WomensLaw.org has no relationship with these organizations and does not endorse their services. We provide these links for your information only.
Si me mudo a otro estado, ¿puedo transferir mi caso de custodia allá?
Es posible que en algún momento se mude con sus hijos/as del estado donde se dio la orden final de custodia. Para información sobre cómo solicitar que se transfiera el caso de custodia a un nuevo estado, por favor vaya a Transferir un caso de custodia a un estado diferente, en nuestra página general de Custodia. Sin embargo, es importante tener en cuenta que es probable que necesite obtener permiso de la corte o de el/la otro/a padre/madre para mudarse de estado. Por favor hable con un/a abogado/a para asegurarse que sus planes de mudanza no violen su orden de custodia o las leyes de secuestro parental de su estado.
