Art. 1226 Service; nonresident parent

If a parent who needs to be notified about a case lives outside Louisiana, the court can't just hand them papers in person. Instead, the court must mail the notice using registered or certified mail, sent to the address listed in the petition. The mail must require a return receipt, so there's proof the parent actually received it.

This mailed notice has to go out at least 30 days before the hearing date. That gives the out-of-state parent enough time to find out about the case and get ready before anything happens in court. This rule protects parents who live far away by making sure they get fair warning and don't miss important hearings simply because they weren't told in time.