What you need to know about...
Adopting in Louisiana

No.

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 46:1425(A)

It shall be unlawful for any person or organization other than a licensed child-placing agency or a Louisiana-based crisis pregnancy center to advertise through print or electronic media that it will adopt children or assist in the adoption of children.

A single adult who is 18 years or older or a married couple jointly.

Yes.

Adopting parents can only pay an intermediary to cover any reasonable expenses involved in the adoption placement. No other payment is allowed.

Reasonable medical and hospital (including prescriptions, travel), living expenses, child’s medical, hospital, and foster care, counseling and training, attorney and court fees, others deemed reasonable and necessary; final expenses affidavit must be filed 10 days before finalization. Payments to intermediary prohibited. Court may order excessive payments refunded, refuse to approve adoption, refer for criminal prosecution. Up to 45 days after birth.

Upon signing, or 5 days after birth if birthfather signs prior to that, except if fraud or duress are proven.

Citation: Children’s Code Art. 1198; 1221; Admin. Code § 67:V.7315
A single person who is age 18 or older or a married couple jointly may petition to adopt a child.
In regulation: Applicants must verify:
• Their marital status, whether legally married or single
• Their identities
• That they are either U.S. citizens or legal aliens
• That they are at least age 18
• That they have sufficient income, separate from foster care reimbursement, to meet the needs of the family
• That they and all household members:
o Have no communicable or infectious diseases
o Have no illness or condition that would present a health (including past and present mental health) or safety risk to a child placed in the home
o Are physically able to provide necessary care for a child
Applicants must provide three personal references of people not related to them and one reference who is related to the applicant(s) but does not live in the home.
The adoptive parent(s) shall participate in training provided or approved by the agency to develop and enhance their skills.
The applicant’s home must meet the health and safety requirements listed in regulation.

Citation: Admin. Code § 67:V.7315
The agency shall complete a State and national criminal background check for each adoption applicant and any member of the household. A check of the State Central Registry shall be conducted on household members age 18 and older for each State where the person has resided for the past 5 years.
The study shall include:
• At least two home consultation visits and a third visit that may be a home or office visit
• Separate face-to-face interviews with each age-appropriate member of the household and an interview with an adult child of the applicant, who does not live in the applicant’s home, regarding the applicant’s parenting history
• Motivation for adoption
• History of any previous application for adoption
• Background and social information of all members of the household, including:
o Personality, family background, customs, and relationships
o Children in the family and family interaction patterns, where and how a new child will fit in and affect family relationships
o Hobbies, interests, social and family contacts, involvement in the community, and how these will be affected by the addition of a new child
o Religious affiliation and practices
o The attitude of each member of the family toward the placement of a child into the home
o Disciplinary beliefs and practices
o The plan for child care if parent(s) work outside of the home
o Provisions for meeting the needs of a special needs placement
o Attitudes and capacities for parenting an adopted child
o Attitude toward birth parent(s) and the reason the child is in need of adoption
o Understanding and acceptance of the adopted child’s background, heritage, identity, and need for sibling and/or family contact
o Readiness and capacity to discuss adoption with the child and deal with adoption-related issues that arise

Citation: Admin. Code § 67:V.7315
No person who is listed on the State Central Registry with a valid finding of child abuse or neglect may reside in an adoptive home.
The applicant shall be notified, in writing, within 30 days if the request to become an adoptive home parent is not recommended for one of the following reasons:
• The applicant is unwilling to withdraw the request to become an adoption parent after receiving a recommendation to withdraw.
• The applicant desires to adopt but is unwilling to adopt a child under the custodial control of the department.
The provider shall enter a dispositional summary in the case record clearly indicating the reason for denial of the application for certification, the manner in whih the decision was presented to the family, and whether or not they agreed with the decision. If the applicant disagrees with the department’s recommendation to not accept the applicant as an adoption home, department staff shall review the request to become an adoption home parent and issue a final written determination regarding the department’s recommendation.
A home shall be decertified if:
• The family does not meet the general requirements for an adoption home.
• The placement is not in the best interests of a child.
• Sexual abuse or exploitation by the parent or other resident of the home is substantiated.
• Substantiated child abuse or neglect by a household resident occurs that is serious in nature or warrants removal of a child.
• A serious physical or mental illness develops that may preclude adequate care of the child by the parent.
• A child has not been placed in the home within the preceding 2 years.
If it is necessary to decertify a home, the reason shall be stated in a personal interview with the family. The provider shall confirm, in a written notice to the parent, the decision to decertify a home. The notice shall be delivered within 30 calendar days of the interview.

Citation: Admin. Code § 67:V.7315
The home study must be completed prior to adoptive placement of a child in the home.

Citation: Admin. Code § 67:V.7315
The agency placing a child shall remain responsible for the child until a final decree has been granted.
The child and family shall be seen within 3 weeks of placement and once every 2 months thereafter, with a visit within 30 days prior to the final decree. At least two of the supervisory visits shall be in the adoptive home and shall include both adoptive parents (if applicable) and all other members of the household.
Observations made during the visits shall be used in making recommendations for finalization of the adoption or to assist the family if problems arise that cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the family and provider. The agency shall assist the family directly and/or refer the family to a provisional resource outside of the agency to address the problem(s).
In special needs placements, supervisory visits should be made at least once every 2 months to provide information, assistance, and support to the family.
Written reports of the supervisory visits shall be dated, sent to the department as part of the confidential report, and placed in the records of the child and adoptive parent(s).
The agency shall:
• Be available to give the family assistance, consultation, and emotional support with situations and problems encountered in permanent placement
• Ensure continuation of case management, visits, and telephone contacts based upon the needs of the child until the adoption is legally granted
• Be made aware of any change in the adoptive home, including health, education, or behavior
• Be responsible for assisting adoptive parents to finalize the adoption or, in cases where the adoption cannot be finalized, developing an alternative permanent plan and placement for the child