Louisiana

Who may adopt?
A single person, age 18 or older.
A married couple jointly.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
The act of surrender by the mother shall not be executed prior to the 5th day after the child's birth.
A father may execute act of surrender prior to or any time after the child's birth.

Revocation of consent?
Consent is irrevocable upon execution.

Who may place a child for adoption?
Private placement
Child-placing agency

Advertising?
It shall be unlawful for any person 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.

Facilitators?
It shall be unlawful for any person 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.

Putative Father's Registry?
Yes.
The putative father may file before or after the child's birth.
The putative father may oppose an adoption by filing a declaration of intention, which must be filed within 15 days after service of notice of surrender, or from the time he was served with notice of adoption, if no surrender was filed or executed.

Expenses?
Birth parent –
Medical and hospital costs of the mother.
Living expenses of the mother.
Medical, hospital, and foster care expenses of the child.
Payment for mother's living expenses may not extend beyond 45 days after the birth.
If a court determines that an expense is unreasonable, it may order a reduction in the amount.

Department/Agency –
Adoptive parents shall pay reasonable expenses incurred for:
Counseling, training, homestudies, legal fees, and dministrative costs.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton