Louisiana Adult Adoption Explained: Step Parent Adoptions, Name Changes & Court Hearings
Louisiana allows adult adoption, whether to formalize a family bond or ensure inheritance rights. Learn how step-parent adult adoption works, when a court hearing is required, and how to change a name through Louisiana Vital Records.
A dult adoption is legal in Louisiana . It’s more common than many people realize. Louisiana law allows one adult to adopt another adult, and depending on the relationship, the process can be surprisingly simple. Sometimes, you may not even need to go to court.
Why Do People Choose Adult Adoption?
There are several reasons someone might pursue a Louisiana adult adoption :
- Inheritance and benefits: An adopting parent may want the adoptee to inherit Social Security, VA benefits, or other assets just as a biological or minor child would under Louisiana law.
- Formalizing a family bond: Sometimes the relationship already feels like family — a parent-child bond exists in every way except legally. Adult adoption allows people to make that relationship official and legally recognized.
How Does Adult Adoption Work in Louisiana?
The process starts with a formal act of adoption , which must be signed in a specific way and recorded in the parish’s public records.
■ Step Parent Adult Adoption
If the adopting adult is the adoptee’s stepparent , the process is straightforward. No court hearing is required.
Many adoptees also choose to legally change their name . Louisiana Vital Records can update the name on the adoptee’s birth certificate with the proper forms. However, the names of the original biological parents on the birth certificate will remain unchanged.
■ Adult Adoption When the Adoptee Is Not a Step Child
If the adoptee is not the step child of the adopting adult, Louisiana law requires a brief court hearing. This hearing allows the judge to confirm that the adoption is voluntary and that no one is being pressured or misled.
Experienced Louisiana Adult Adoption Attorneys
Gaudin Law Group has successfully completed many adult adoptions across the state , like Ea st Baton Rouge Parish, Livingston Parish, West Feliciana Parish, East Feliciana Parish, and Lafayette Parish . If you’re considering an adult adoption in Louisiana, experienced guidance can make the process smooth and stress-free .