Louisiana child support | Louisiana child support enforcement (2023)

Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Resource Center

• Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Measures
• Who Can Enforce Court-Ordered Child Support in Louisiana
• Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Services Caseload Statistics
• Interest on Missed Louisiana Child Support Payments
• Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support
• Statute of Limitations on Determining Paternity
• Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority
• Louisiana’s Guidelines for Setting Child Support Payments
• Custody and Visitation Issues

Even if the non-custodial parent lives in another state, the law requires cooperation between states. The non-custodial parent is legally required to make regular child support payments, regardless of where they live.

Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Measures

If a non-custodial parent does not pay child support, he or she is subject to enforcement measures by the State of Louisiana to collect regular and past-due payments.

• Being included on Louisiana’s Delinquent Payors list, a publicly-available list of individuals who are under a legal obligation to pay child support, yet have not made a payment in the last six months.
• Withholding of income (wages, employment bonuses, Workers’ Compensation benefits, unemployment benefits, etc.)
• Reporting delinquent parents to credit report bureaus.
• Driver’s, professional, and hunting and fishing licenses may be suspended or denied.
• Passport applications may be denied by the U.S. State Department.
• Interception of a parent’s federal and state income tax refunds, state or property tax credits, and state lottery winnings.
• Liens may be filed against any real property or other assets.
• A lawsuit may be filed against the non-custodial parent asking the court to enforce its order. The court may find a parent in contempt of court and possibly impose a jail sentence.

Who Can Enforce Court-Ordered Child Support in Louisiana?

Federal law requires all states to have a child support enforcement program. In Louisiana, the program is administered by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, Support Enforcement Services (SES).

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Interest on Missed Louisiana Child Support Payments

The State of Louisiana does not currently allow for interest to be charged on missed payments or retroactive support.

LA Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)

The statute of limitations for child support enforcement in Louisiana is 10 years.

LA Statute of Limitations on Determining Paternity

Paternity must be established by the age of majority, which is generally 18 years of age in Louisiana.

Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Civil Code Article 29 specifies the age of majority as 18 years of age.

Louisiana Revised Statue 9:309(C)allows for child support to be paid for a child past the age of majority if the child is unmarried, a full time student in good standing in a secondary school, and dependent on either parent or if the child is a developmentally disabled support may be paid up to age 22 years of age.

Louisiana Guidelines for Setting Child Support Payments

Louisiana child support guidelines are based on the number of children, the combined adjusted monthly net income of both parents, child care costs, extraordinary medical expenses, and a number of other factors.

If the court finds that there are special circumstances such as the child or children having additional or exceptional needs that require additional support, the payment amount may be greater than the basic guidelines specify.

Custody and Visitation Issues

Child support and visitation rights are separate issues. The court determines both and will usually order the non-custodial parent to pay support and the custodial parent to make the child available for visits.

The custodial parent has a duty to obey the court order for visitation, even if the non-custodial parent cannot or will not pay child support. The court can enforce its orders against either parent.