The Estate Inventory Alternative That Saves Louisiana Families Time and Money

Key Takeaways: A sworn detailed descriptive list under La. C.C.P. art. 3136(A) identifies every estate asset, states its location, and sets its fair market value as of the date of death. It may be filed wherever an inventory would otherwise be required, and art. 3136(B) allows that choice without judicial authority. The list typically covers bank accounts, vehicles, securities, jewelry, mineral royalties, and business interests, while assets with named beneficiaries generally pass outside the succession, though a spouse’s community property claim should still be reflected. Under La. C.C.P. art. 3396.18, which governs independent administrations, the list must be filed before closing and may be sealed on request. Common pitfalls include undervalued immovables, overlooked mineral interests, and missing locations.

A sworn detailed descriptive list is a formal filing that identifies every asset in a decedent’s estate, states where each item is located, and assigns a fair market value as of the date of death. Under La. C.C.P. art. 3136(A), whenever an inventory would be required, the filer may instead submit a detailed descriptive list. It replaces the costlier court-ordered inventory process and is often the most important document filed in the entire succession.

If you are preparing to open a succession and are unsure how to value or characterize property, the attorneys at Damon J Baldone & Associates can walk you through the process. Call 985-868-3427 or contact us now to discuss your family’s situation.

The Legal Foundation Behind the Descriptive List

Louisiana lawmakers created the descriptive list to reduce the burden of settling an estate. Formal inventories were historically required in all administrations. The 1960 Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure changed course, permitting a detailed descriptive list to be substituted for the formal inventory whenever an inventory would otherwise be required.

The monetary savings to families can be considerable. Louisiana Law Review analysis noted that eliminating the appraiser-and-notary inventory procedure removed a meaningful expense from routine successions.

The statute has evolved over time. Article 3136 was amended by Acts 1972, No. 326, §2, and most recently by Acts 2024, No. 371, §1, which removed the former requirement that the list also be filed with the Department of Revenue. Related provisions governing independent administration have been amended by Acts 2001, No. 974, §1; Acts 2010, No. 175, §1; Acts 2017, No. 198, §1; and Acts 2020, No. 19, §2. Confirming the current text before filing is advisable.

What the Law Requires the Document to Contain

Three requirements appear in the statutory text. La. C.C.P. art. 3136(A) provides that the list shall be sworn to and subscribed by the person filing it, shall show the location of all items of succession property, and shall set forth the fair market value of each item at the date of death. Omitting a location or using a post-death valuation date can create problems later. A properly filed list is prima facie proof of the estate’s contents and values under La. C.C.P. art. 3137, but it may be amended or traversed by an interested party.

Assets Commonly Included

The scope is broader than most families expect. A properly prepared list generally enumerates:

• Balances in bank and credit union accounts
• Vehicles, trailers, and boats
• Stocks, bonds, and cash on hand
• Mortgages and promissory notes payable to the decedent
• Jewelry, household goods, and collections
• Livestock, mineral royalties, and interests in a business

In Terrebonne Parish, mineral royalty interests and commercial fishing vessels appear on descriptive lists with regularity, and both require careful valuation.

Assets That Pass Outside the Succession

Not everything the decedent owned belongs on the list. Certain assets are distributed outside the succession and are generally excluded, including life insurance unless payable to the estate, annuities payable to a named beneficiary, IRAs and SEPs, retirement or pension plans payable to a beneficiary, U.S. Savings Bonds with a surviving co-owner or beneficiary, and bank accounts held with a surviving co-depositor where the account terms so provide. Whether a particular account passes outside the succession depends on beneficiary designations, account documentation, and community property or forced heirship principles.

Liabilities and Community Property Claims

Louisiana’s community property regime shapes how assets are characterized. As the Louisiana successions desk manual explains, each spouse generally owns an undivided one-half interest in property acquired during the marriage, subject to exceptions that classify certain property as separate. If a non-participant spouse has a community property claim to the surviving spouse’s IRA or SEP, that claim should be listed even though the retirement account itself may pass outside the succession.

Liabilities may also be reflected. Debts such as last-illness expenses can be included, and in an independent administration art. 3396.18(A) contemplates a list of both assets and liabilities. The estate’s net value affects what is distributed. Careful attention to community versus separate classification is one of the most common areas where Louisiana estate administration goes sideways.

💡 Pro Tip: Gather date-of-death statements for every account before drafting. Values pulled from a later statement rarely match the statutory valuation date and often require an amended filing.

Filing a Sworn Detailed Descriptive List in Louisiana Without Court Permission

No judge has to approve the choice. La. C.C.P. art. 3136(B) states that the privilege of filing a descriptive list may be exercised without judicial authority. The succession representative can simply prepare, swear to, and file the document.

Timing matters at the closing stage. Under La. C.C.P. art. 3396.18(A), before the succession can be closed and a judgment of possession rendered in an independent administration, there shall be filed an inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list of assets and liabilities verified by the independent administrator. The filing is a condition of finishing the case.

Smaller estates sometimes follow a different track. Louisiana provides a streamlined small succession procedure that avoids full administration in qualifying circumstances, and our guide on how to record a small succession affidavit explains that route in detail.

Privacy Protections for the Estate’s Financial Details

Louisiana law offers a privacy remedy. Under La. C.C.P. art. 3396.18(B), the detailed descriptive list shall be sealed upon the request of an independent administrator, heir, or legatee.

Sealing does not cut off access for those closest to the estate. La. C.C.P. art. 3396.18(C) provides that if the list is sealed, a copy shall be provided to the decedent’s universal successors and surviving spouse. The seal restricts public inspection, not internal transparency.

Courts also retain discretion to release limited information. Upon motion of any successor, surviving spouse, or creditor, the court may furnish relevant information contained in the list regarding assets and liabilities of the estate.

💡 Pro Tip: If privacy is a priority, raise the sealing request early rather than after filing. Requesting a seal at the outset is simpler than seeking relief once information is already publicly accessible.

Common Pitfalls in Terrebonne Parish Succession Filings

Most descriptive list problems trace back to recurring issues. Undervaluing immovable property, forgetting mineral interests, misclassifying community property as separate, and omitting the location of movable items are frequent culprits. Each can delay a judgment of possession or complicate a later sale.

Valuation is often the hardest part. Fair market value at the date of death is a factual determination, and reasonable people can disagree. Appraisals, comparable sales, and account statements all help, though no method eliminates every question.

Amendments are possible but inconvenient. When an asset surfaces after filing, a supplemental or amended list may be filed, which adds steps and time. Thorough preparation on the front end is the most reliable safeguard.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who signs the sworn detailed descriptive list?

The person who would otherwise have caused an inventory to be taken signs it. La. C.C.P. art. 3136(A) requires that the list be sworn to and subscribed by the person filing it, typically the independent administrator.

2. Does the list have to include debts?

It depends on the proceeding. La. C.C.P. art. 3396.18(A) refers to an inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list of assets and liabilities in an independent administration, and expenses of the decedent’s last illness are among the liabilities that can be listed.

3. Why is date-of-death value used instead of current value?

La. C.C.P. art. 3136(A) requires the fair market value of each item as of the date of death, which fixes a single, verifiable valuation point for the estate.

4. Can a retirement account ever appear on the list?

Sometimes, indirectly. While IRAs, SEPs, and pension plans payable to a named beneficiary generally pass outside the succession, a non-participant spouse’s community property claim against such an account should be reflected on the list.

5. Is a descriptive list required in every Louisiana succession?

Not necessarily. Some qualifying small successions proceed by affidavit instead, and the statutory text of Louisiana descriptive list requirements applies where an inventory would otherwise have been required by law.

Bringing the Succession to a Close With Confidence

The sworn detailed descriptive list is far more than a formality. It sets the valuation baseline, establishes what the estate owns, distinguishes community from separate property, and in an independent administration, satisfies a statutory prerequisite to closing the succession and obtaining a judgment of possession. Done well, it moves a family toward resolution efficiently; done carelessly, it invites delays and title problems.

The team at Damon J Baldone & Associates brings extensive experience in Louisiana estate administration to every matter. Call 985-868-3427 or reach out to our office today to get started.

Credibility Records Reference

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Giving Property to Family in Louisiana Without a Sale

Key Takeaways: An act of donation is the Louisiana legal document used to transfer immovable property as a gift rather than a sale, treated by La. Civ. Code art. 1468 as a donation inter vivos. To be valid, the transfer must be made by authentic act before a notary, be accepted in writing by the donee during the donor’s lifetime under La. Civ. Code art. 1544, and be recorded in the parish conveyance records. La. R.S. 35:199(A)(1) directs the notary to record the instrument within fifteen days with the Terrebonne Parish recorder. Donors can reserve a usufruct while transferring naked ownership to keep living in the property or collecting its income. Donations are irrevocable except in narrow circumstances such as ingratitude or nonperformance of conditions. Common pitfalls include generic online forms, missing written acceptance, incomplete legal descriptions, community property consent issues, unresolved mortgages, forced heirship exposure, and overlooked gift tax and capital gains basis consequences.

An act of donation is the legal document Louisiana uses to transfer ownership of land, a house, or other immovable property as a gift. Louisiana’s Civil Code treats this as a donation inter vivos, defined in La. Civ. Code art. 1468 as a contract by which a donor gratuitously divests himself, at present and irrevocably, of the thing given in favor of a donee, who accepts it. For families in Houma and across Terrebonne Parish, it is one of the most common ways parents pass a camp, family home, or acreage to a child during their lifetime. Done correctly, it creates a clean title transfer; done carelessly, it can create clouded title and unintended tax consequences.

If you are considering gifting property to a loved one, the attorneys at Damon J Baldone & Associates can walk you through the requirements. Call 985-868-3427 or contact us now to discuss your situation.

Where the Act of Donation Fits in Louisiana Property Law

Louisiana law recognizes several ways ownership changes hands, and gratuitous transfer by agreement is one of them. The Civil Code addresses the transfer of ownership by agreement in articles 517 through 525. Unlike a sale, no price is paid, which is why the Code imposes stricter formalities.

The property being given must qualify as immovable property under the Code. Louisiana separates immovables, addressed in La. Civ. Code arts. 462 through 470, from movables, addressed in arts. 471 through 475. Tracts of land, buildings, and their components are generally immovable, while vehicles, furniture, and cash are movable. That distinction matters because the form and acceptance rules differ depending on the category.

Donations Are Contracts, Not Just Paperwork

Since a 2009 revision, the Civil Code expressly characterizes a donation inter vivos as a contract. Framing the donation as a contract reinforces that both consent of the donor and acceptance by the donee are required elements.

Pure, Onerous, and Remunerative Donations

Not every transfer labeled a gift stays inside the donation rules. Under La. Civ. Code art. 1526, a transfer burdened with an obligation imposed on the donee that results in a material advantage to the donor is not governed by the rules peculiar to donations inter vivos, unless the cost of performing that obligation is less than two-thirds of the value of the thing donated.

The Core Requirements of an Act of Donation Louisiana Immovable Property Transfers Must Meet

A valid gift of land requires proper form, a valid object, acceptance by the donee, and recordation.

• Form: A donation of immovable property must be made by authentic act, meaning it is passed before a notary and two witnesses. Failure to observe that form results in absolute nullity.
• Object: The thing donated must be a present thing the donor owns, or a real right in it. There is no donation of future property.
• Acceptance: The donee must accept in writing during the donor’s lifetime.
• Recordation: The instrument must be filed in the conveyance records of the parish where the property sits to affect third parties.

Acceptance is not a technicality; it is what gives the donation legal life. Under La. Civ. Code art. 1544, a donation inter vivos is without effect until it is accepted by the donee, and the acceptance shall be made during the lifetime of the donor. Acceptance may be made in the act of donation itself or subsequently in writing. For corporeal movables, delivery can substitute for written acceptance, but that shortcut does not exist for land.

💡 Pro Tip: The cleanest practice is to have the donee sign the same act of donation the donor signs. Separate later acceptances are permitted in writing, but they create a window in which the donor could die and the donation could fail.

Recording the Act in Terrebonne Parish

Recording is what makes the transfer effective against the rest of the world. Under La. R.S. 35:199(A), notaries public shall record all acts of sale, exchange, donation, and mortgage of immovable property. For immovables outside Orleans Parish, La. R.S. 35:199(A)(1) directs that the notary shall record the instrument within fifteen days with the appropriate recorder of the parish where the property is situated.

For Houma-area property, that means filing with the Terrebonne Parish clerk of court’s conveyance records. Louisiana’s public records doctrine means an unrecorded transfer, while binding between donor and donee, has no effect as to third persons. Anyone reviewing the state’s notary public law under Title 35 will see how seriously the recording duty is treated.

Reserving a Usufruct and Keeping Control

Many donors want to give the property away but continue living in it or collecting its income. Louisiana’s personal servitude rules, found in La. Civ. Code arts. 533 through 645 with usufruct addressed in arts. 535 through 629, allow a donor to reserve a usufruct while transferring naked ownership. This is common when a parent donates the family home to a child but intends to stay there for life.

Reserving a usufruct changes the practical reality of the gift. The naked owner holds title but generally cannot occupy the property or convey it free of the usufruct while it lasts. A usufruct over a nonconsumable is typically extinguished at the usufructuary’s death. Our discussion of usufruct protections for spouses explains how the right operates in estate plans.

When a Donation Can Be Undone

Irrevocability is the general rule, but it is not absolute. Under La. Civ. Code art. 1556, a donation may be revoked for ingratitude of the donee, and it may be dissolved for nonfulfillment of a suspensive condition or nonperformance of imposed conditions or charges. Revocation for ingratitude is limited to narrow grounds such as an attempt on the donor’s life or cruel treatment, crimes, or grievous injuries, and the action must generally be brought within one year. Courts interpret these grounds narrowly, so donors should not assume a gift can be pulled back simply because a relationship sours.

Common Pitfalls Houma Property Owners Run Into

Most problems with donations surface years later, when someone tries to sell or mortgage the property. A Houma real estate attorney reviewing the transfer beforehand can identify issues while they are still fixable.

• Using a generic online form that does not satisfy Louisiana’s authentic act requirements
• Omitting a written acceptance, or attempting acceptance after the donor’s death
• Describing the property by street address instead of a full legal description
• Failing to address community property consent when the donor is married
• Overlooking forced heirship, because donations that impinge on a forced heir’s legitime may later be subject to collation or reduction
• Ignoring federal gift tax reporting obligations for transfers above the annual exclusion
• Donating property that secures an existing mortgage without reviewing the loan terms

💡 Pro Tip: Pull a current title search before donating. If there is an old succession, a tax lien, or an unreleased mortgage in the chain, a donation will carry that problem forward rather than clean it up.

Tax consequences deserve separate attention from a qualified tax adviser. Louisiana no longer imposes a state gift tax, but a lifetime gift generally carries over the donor’s income tax basis instead of receiving the basis adjustment available for property acquired from a decedent, which can increase capital gains exposure when the donee eventually sells. The applicable rules found in the Louisiana Civil Code online govern the transfer itself, not its federal tax treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does an act of donation avoid succession for that property?

Property validly donated during the donor’s lifetime and properly recorded is no longer owned by the donor at death, which can simplify administration. However, the effect depends on whether the donation met all formal requirements, whether any reserved rights remain, and whether the gift is subject to collation or reduction in favor of forced heirs.

2. Can I donate property to more than one person?

Yes. A donor may transfer undivided interests to multiple donees, and each donee must accept during the donor’s lifetime. Co-ownership creates management and partition issues that should be considered carefully.

3. What happens if the donee never signs anything?

Under La. Civ. Code art. 1544, the donation is without effect until accepted during the donor’s lifetime. If no written acceptance was ever made and the donor has died, the transfer generally fails.

4. Is a notarized document enough, or does it have to be recorded?

Both matter. The authentic act addresses validity between the parties, while recording addresses effectiveness against third persons. Under La. R.S. 35:199, the notary also carries a recording duty for donations of immovables.

5. Can I donate property I still owe money on?

Possibly, but the mortgage follows the property, and many loan documents contain due-on-transfer clauses. Reviewing the note and mortgage before executing a donation is strongly advisable.

Getting the Transfer Right the First Time

An act of donation is a powerful tool for moving Terrebonne Parish property to the next generation, but Louisiana’s formalities leave little room for improvisation. Between the authentic act requirement, the donee’s written acceptance during the donor’s lifetime under La. Civ. Code art. 1544, the fifteen-day notarial recording duty in La. R.S. 35:199(A)(1), and the option of reserving a usufruct, each decision shapes what the donee actually receives. The right structure depends on the property, the relationships, and the broader estate plan.

Before you sign a gratuitous transfer of land, let Damon J Baldone & Associates review the document and the title. Call 985-868-3427 or schedule a consultation to make sure your act of donation Louisiana immovable property transfer holds up for years to come.

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Moving With Your Child in Terrebonne Parish? Read This First

Key Takeaways: Louisiana’s Relocation Act requires written notice no later than sixty days before a proposed move under La. R.S. 9:355.5(A)(1). A "relocation" means a change in principal residence for sixty days or more; temporary absences don’t trigger the statute. The Act applies to out-of-state moves and certain in-state moves exceeding seventy-five miles, with the specific distance measured differently depending on whether a custody order exists and its terms (La. R.S. 9:355.2). Notice must be sent by registered or certified mail or commercial courier and contain every item listed in La. R.S. 9:355.5(B), including new address, moving date, reasons, a proposed revised custody schedule, and notice of the right to object. The other parent has thirty days to object in writing (La. R.S. 9:355.7), after which the relocating parent must file a summary proceeding within thirty days. Missing deadlines, using informal delivery, or moving before resolution can jeopardize both the move and custodial arrangement.

Louisiana’s relocation law requires a parent intending to change a child’s principal residence to give the other parent written notice no later than sixty days before the proposed move (La. R.S. 9:355.5(A)(1)). Skipping notice, sending it late, or omitting required details can jeopardize the move and a parent’s custodial arrangement. For Houma families, understanding the louisiana child relocation 60 day notice before packing is often the difference between an orderly transition and an emergency hearing.

If you are planning a move or just received a notice of intended relocation, Damon J Baldone & Associates can help you evaluate your options under Louisiana law. Call 985-868-3427 or contact us now to discuss your custody situation with a Houma family law attorney.

What Louisiana Law Counts as a "Relocation"

Not every move triggers the statute. Under La. R.S. 9:355.1, "relocation" means a change in principal residence for sixty days or more, excluding temporary absences. A summer stay with grandparents in Baton Rouge generally is not a relocation, while a permanent household move to a location covered by La. R.S. 9:355.2 typically is.

The statute defines "principal residence" as the residence designated by court order; absent court order, the location the parties agreed upon; otherwise where the child primarily resided during the prior six months. Parents without a formal custody judgment are sometimes surprised the statute can still apply.

Whether the Act applies depends on La. R.S. 9:355.2, which reaches proposed moves establishing the child’s principal residence outside Louisiana, and in-state moves exceeding seventy-five miles, measured from the domicile of the other parent when there is no custody order, from the child’s principal residence at the time of the most recent custody decree when a custody order exists, or from the domicile of a person entitled to object when no principal residence has been designated by the court or the parties share equal physical custody. The statute doesn’t apply where parties have express written agreement permitting relocation, certain protective orders are in effect, or existing custody orders expressly govern relocation. When unclear, the safer course is to treat the move as a potential relocation and address it before relocating.

Where the Rules Come From

These provisions sit in Louisiana Civil Code-Ancillaries Title 9, Subpart E, "Relocating a Child’s Residence." Enacted by Acts 1997, No. 1173, § 1, and later amended, the framework applies statewide. Full text is published through Justia’s Louisiana statutes and the Legislature’s website, though the controlling authority is the statute itself, interpreted by Louisiana appellate and supreme court decisions.

The Louisiana Child Relocation 60 Day Notice: Timing and Delivery

The timing rule is straightforward, and the delivery method is not optional. La. R.S. 9:355.5(A)(1) requires notice no later than sixty days before the proposed relocation. Notice must be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or commercial courier (La. R.S. 13:3204(D)), to the last known address of the person entitled to notice.

A limited exception exists for unforeseeable information. La. R.S. 9:355.5(A)(2) permits notice on the tenth day after the relocating person learns required information, if they didn’t know and couldn’t reasonably have known it in time for sixty-day notice and it’s not reasonably possible to extend the move date. This fallback is narrow. Courts scrutinize claims a parent couldn’t provide timely notice.

💡 Pro Tip: Preserve proof of mailing, the return receipt, and a dated copy of the notice. In contested hearings, documentation of what was sent and when is frequently the first issue courts address.

What the Notice of Intended Relocation Must Contain

A timely notice omitting required content may still be deficient. La. R.S. 9:355.5(B) enumerates required information. Text messages or informal emails generally won’t satisfy this requirement.

The statute’s required contents include:

• Current mailing address of the person proposing relocation
• Intended new residence, including specific address and mailing address if known
• Applicable telephone numbers
• Date of proposed relocation
• Brief statement of specific reasons for relocation
• Proposal for revised schedule of physical custody or visitation
• Statement of recipient’s right to object

The notice must inform the recipient of the right to object and deadline. Under La. R.S. 9:355.5(B)(8), the notice must state that objections must be in writing by registered or certified mail within thirty days of receipt, and that the recipient should seek legal advice immediately. La. R.S. 9:355.5(C) imposes a continuing duty to provide required information as it becomes known.

Why a Proposed Schedule Matters

Including a realistic revised custody schedule does more than check a statutory box. It signals to the court that the relocating parent has considered preserving the child’s relationship with the other parent, which is central to the best-interest analysis courts apply under La. R.S. 9:355.14. A proposal offering extended summers, holiday blocks, virtual contact, and a workable travel plan reads very differently to a judge than a bare demand to move.

A parent’s role in the custody order affects how relocation requests are received. Understanding what is a domiciliary parent under Louisiana custody law is useful, because designation alone doesn’t grant unilateral authority to relocate. A domiciliary parent may propose relocation under La. R.S. 9:355.3, but the notice obligation still applies, and parents sharing equal physical custody must obtain court authorization or the other person’s express written consent before relocating under La. R.S. 9:355.4(B).

Objecting to a Proposed Move

If you receive notice and oppose the move, the clock starts immediately. The thirty-day written objection period under La. R.S. 9:355.7 is short, and under La. R.S. 9:355.9 failure to object in compliance with the statute generally allows the relocating parent to proceed. Send objections by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or commercial courier, to the mailing address in the notice.

An objection preserves the issue for court. Once proper objection is sent, La. R.S. 9:355.9 requires the relocating parent to initiate a summary proceeding within thirty days of receiving it. Court approval may be granted only after a contradictory hearing. Under La. R.S. 9:355.10, the relocating parent bears the burden of proving the proposed relocation is made in good faith and is in the child’s best interest. Louisiana appellate decisions applying the relocation statute illustrate how courts weigh that burden. Published opinions and statutory text are available through Louisiana legal research resources.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not remove the child from the state while an objection or relocation hearing is pending unless the court has authorized it. Moving first and litigating later is one of the most common and costly missteps in child custody relocation Louisiana cases.

Common Pitfalls Houma Parents Encounter

Most relocation problems trace to avoidable errors. Parents frequently miscount the sixty days, send notice by ordinary mail, omit the proposed visitation schedule, or assume verbal agreement with the other parent suffices, even though the statute’s agreement exception requires express written agreement. Others assume domiciliary parent status means no notice is owed.

Timing pressure from employers and new housing rarely excuses noncompliance. A lease starting in three weeks doesn’t satisfy the narrow ten-day exception. If circumstances are genuinely unforeseeable, document when you learned relevant information, because that date may determine whether the alternative timing provision applies.

Local practice knowledge matters as much as statutory knowledge. Working with a louisiana child relocation 60 day notice lawyer who regularly appears in Terrebonne Parish family court can help you anticipate how a proposed parenting plan is likely to be received.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the 60-day notice apply if I am only moving across Houma?

Generally, a short local move doesn’t trigger the relocation statute. La. R.S. 9:355.1 defines relocation as a change in principal residence for sixty days or more, and La. R.S. 9:355.2 limits the Act to out-of-state moves and in-state moves exceeding seventy-five miles, with the specific distance measured from different reference points depending on whether a custody order exists and its terms. Your custody judgment may impose separate address-notification duties.

2. What happens if I move without giving notice?

Failing to comply can have serious consequences. Courts may order the child returned, consider noncompliance as a factor in relocation and custody analysis, and order the relocating parent to pay reasonable expenses and attorney fees incurred by the objecting person.

3. Can the other parent simply refuse to let us move?

An objection doesn’t automatically defeat relocation. It shifts the dispute to court, where the relocating parent must show good faith and that the move serves the child’s best interest under La. R.S. 9:355.10. Judges weigh statutory factors in La. R.S. 9:355.14, and results vary considerably.

4. What if my job transfer came with almost no warning?

La. R.S. 9:355.5(A)(2) may permit notice within ten days of learning required information, but only if you didn’t know and couldn’t reasonably have known it in time and it’s not reasonably possible to postpone the move. Courts interpret this exception narrowly. Save emails, transfer orders, and dated documentation.

Protecting Your Parental Relationship Through a Move

Louisiana’s relocation framework is built around advance disclosure and judicial review, not unilateral decisions. Core obligations are written notice sent at least sixty days before the intended move under La. R.S. 9:355.5(A)(1), delivery by certified mail or commercial courier, inclusion of every item listed in La. R.S. 9:355.5(B), and a continuing duty to update information under La. R.S. 9:355.5(C). Whether you’re seeking to move or preserve regular contact, acting within statutory windows protects your position far better than reacting after the fact.

Relocation cases move quickly and deadlines are unforgiving. Reach out to Damon J Baldone & Associates by calling 985-868-3427, or learn more at phonebaldone.com to discuss how Louisiana’s relocation statute applies to your family’s circumstances.

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