Art. 849 Service and return; resident parent

If a child's parent lives in Louisiana, the court must make sure that parent is officially notified about an upcoming adjudication hearing. This notice can happen in a few ways: handing the papers directly to the parent, leaving them with someone at the parent's home, or sending them by certified mail. The key requirement is timing: the parent must get this notice at least 48 hours before the hearing starts.

Whoever delivers this notice has to fill out proof that they did it, called a "return." If the papers were sent by certified mail, the person also needs to attach the signed receipt showing the mail was delivered. This paperwork protects everyone involved by creating a clear record that proper notice was given before the court moves forward with the case.