Louisiana Family Law
Louisiana laws are created and revised by the actions of lawmakers and the courts, as in other states. Click on the links below to learn more information.
1.State statute | Louisiana code of Civil Procedure – Article: 103 |
2. Fault or no-fault (typically when a state allows fault based and no-fault divorce, fault based divorces require no separation period. | No-fault |
3. Equitable distribution or community property | Community Property |
a. Methods of apportionment | |
i. Periera and Van Camp in CA | |
b. Property distribution factors | Louisiana is a community property state. See La. R.S. 9:374E |
4. Legal separation? | There is no ‘legal separation’ recognized in Louisiana. |
a. Waiting period/Separation period | 180 days |
5. Is mediation required | There is no court ordered mediation precedent to divorce proceedings in Louisiana. However, in regard to custody or visitation of minor children, See § La. R.S. 9:332 |
6. Forms used | Louisiana self-help divorce forms are available through the Louisiana Legal Aid |
7. Alimony guidelines and factors | Can not exceed greater than 1/3 of payor's net income |
Alimony formula | |
a. Types | |
b. Term Limits | |
Cohabitation | "Automatic modification OR Material change in circumstances may warrant modification in support LA R.S. 9:311" |
c. Imputing income | |
d. Change in circumstances | |
e. Ceases on retirement | |
Impute income on early retirement | |
Early retirement for health reasons is involuntary | |
f. Definition of income | Bushnell v. Bushnell, 527 So. 2d 15 (La. Ct. App. 1988); |
8. Child support factors and guidelines | Child support factors & guidelines |
9. Child support calculator | Child support calculator |
10. Lump Sum Support allowed? | Civil code, article 160 |
11. Valuation | |
a. Valuation date | Divorce |
b. Goodwill divisibility | Personal goodwill is not divisible. Enterprise goodwill is divisible. - LA Rev Stat Section 9:2801.2 |
c. Standard of value | Fair market value- Louisiana law requires the use of the ‘fair market value’ standard for valuing businesses in a marital property context. Louisiana is one of only two states in the US that provides statutory guidance as to the standard of value used in divorce proceedings. |
d. Discounts | |
e. Shareholder/partner agreements | |
12. Double dip | Impermissable double dip, not issue because personal goodwill not divisible |
a. Stock options | |
b. Retirement accounts | |
c. Child support | |
13. Key cases | |
14. Premarital agreements | "Spouses are free to establish by matrimonial agreement a regime of separation of property or modify the legal regime as provided by law LA C.C. Art. 2328" |
15. Common law |
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