Art. 852 Service; nonresident parent

When a parent lives outside of Louisiana, the court still has to notify them properly before moving forward with the case. This can be done in one of two ways: someone can personally hand the parent the court papers, or the papers can be sent by certified mail to the address listed in the petition. Either way, this must happen at least five days before the adjudication hearing takes place.

If certified mail is used, the sender has to ask for a return receipt, which is the green card or confirmation showing the mail was delivered. Whoever sends the documents is then responsible for filing that receipt with the court. This receipt serves as proof that the parent actually received notice of the hearing, which protects their right to know about the case and have a chance to respond.