Art. 1171 Prior approval of private adoptive placement; exceptions

If you want to adopt a child through a private adoption, you usually can't bring that child into your home until you've gotten official approval first. This means you need either a current adoption certification or a court order approving the placement before the child moves in with you.

There's an exception for family members. If the child is your stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece, or nephew, you don't have to wait for this approval before the child comes to live with you. This exception recognizes that placing a child with close family often doesn't carry the same risks as placing a child with people who aren't related.

For everyone else, the approval process comes first. This rule exists to protect children by making sure prospective parents are properly screened and approved before a child is placed in their home, rather than trying to get approval after the fact.