Art. 1249 Service; nonresident parent

If a parent involved in the case lives outside Louisiana, they still need to be officially notified about the court hearing. This rule explains how that notice must be sent.

The parent must be notified by certified or registered mail with a return receipt, or by a commercial courier service. Whoever sends the notice must mail it to the address listed in the petition at least 30 days before the hearing starts. This gives the out-of-state parent enough time to find out about the case and prepare before anything happens in court.

The rule also protects private information. If the petition or any attached documents include a social security number, that number can be blacked out or removed before the papers are sent to the parent.