In most cases, stability and continuity serve the best interests of a child. Therefore, under Louisiana law, child custody after the death of a custodial parent may pass to the surviving biological parent. This would be especially true if the parents had joint custody before one of them passed away.
If the deceased parent named a legal guardian for the child in their will, the child might become the ward of the guardian named in the will. Generally, however, under child custody laws for unmarried parents, a court grants custody to the surviving biological parent even if the deceased parent named a different guardian for the child in their will.
If the surviving parent is the father whose paternity has not yet been established, then the father would have to establish his paternity before a court would grant him custody of a child. The biological father might have to petition the court for DNA testing to confirm his paternity.
If the mother passes away, acknowledging paternity improves the position of the biological father with respect to custody. However, it does not automatically guarantee that the father would be given sole custody. Courts always decide custody in the best interests of the child.
If a father is not able or willing to establish his paternity, another family member or a guardian may be awarded custody.
Yet another option, if both of the biological parents were married to people other than the parent of their child, would be adoption by one of the stepparents. In some circumstances, a stepparent who has established a close relationship with the child may have a greater chance of adopting the child than a biological parent has of winning custody.
A court would evaluate the relationship between the child and the stepparent, including their commitment, emotional bond, and ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment.
If the stepparent has already developed a strong parental relationship, a court may well grant adoption to the stepparent, even if a biological parent is available to assume custody.
Of course, the biological father may establish his paternity in court, and then he would file a petition to get custody or visitation if that is his wish.
Parents may also complete a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity form, which is a legal document used by unmarried parents to create a legal connection between a biological father and a child. This form can be completed either at the hospital at the time of a child’s birth or with the appropriate state agencies at any other time.
A court would usually grant custody to a surviving biological parent unless there is a compelling reason for which they should not have it. If the surviving parent is unfit, the court would look to a stepparent, as noted above, or appoint a legal guardian to assume responsibility for the child.
The guardian might be the guardian named by the deceased parent in their will, the child’s grandparent, an adult sibling, or another family member, but a family relationship would not be a requirement.
If no family member is available to take on the role as the child’s guardian and the deceased parent did not name a guardian in their will, the child would enter the Louisiana foster care system. A local attorney in Louisiana would be able to provide more information about guardianship in that state.
How Do Courts Make Custody Decisions?
When parents are not married to each other or decide to separate or divorce, custody of their child or children is an issue. Either the parents must resolve it through negotiation and agreement, or a court makes the decisions. The courts make child custody decisions in Louisiana based on what is in the best interest of the child.
Understanding how judges make child custody decisions can help parents know what to expect and how to prepare for legal hearings on their child custody issues.
In applying the child’s best interest standard in Louisiana, courts consider a variety of factors, including the following:
- The health and safety of the child
- The character, fitness, and attitudes of the parents
- Any history of child abuse by a parent
- Any history of domestic violence on the part of either parent
- The nature and amount of contact that the child has had with each parent
- Whether either parent has substance abuse issues with controlled substances or alcohol.
Other factors in the lives of both the parents and the child would be considered as well, e.g., if the child is old enough, the child’s own preference.
Louisiana is a state that grants equal rights to custody and visitation to both parents. If one parent wants sole custody, they must go to court and prove that the other parent is unfit to have custody of the child.
Louisiana law does not give preference for custody to either the mother or father if both are alive. Instead, it examines each parent’s contribution to the child’s upbringing and, again, decides on the basis of the child’s best interest.
Child custody laws for unmarried parents are different from those for married parents seeking a divorce or separation in one respect. Again, an unmarried father who wants to assert a right to custody or visitation must establish his paternity first.
What Types of Support Should Children Receive?
It is important to note that there are 2 types of custody: legal and physical. Legal custody is the right to make the key decisions about a child’s upbringing. These would be decisions about such things as the child’s education, health care, and religious identity.
Physical custody is essentially where the child lives, whether the child lives primarily with one parent or the other or spends equal amounts of time in both households.
Under Louisiana law, parents are obligated to provide their children with financial support. Both parents have this obligation, and the status of the parents’ relationship does not matter. The Louisiana state government wants to ensure that children have their needs met whether their parents are married or not, divorced or separated.
In Louisiana, grounds to terminate the parental rights of a father or a mother exist in situations in which the parent has not been involved in their child’s life and has failed to provide financial support as they are legally required to do.
Also, a parent who is a proven danger to a child may be unfit. This may be because of past domestic violence, substance abuse, mental issues, or past crimes related to physical or sexual violence. Any significant and documented history of emotional or physical abuse by one parent towards the child could justify a Louisiana court in giving sole custody to the other parent.
Again, if a father makes no effort to see his child and does not contribute to the financial support of the child, he may lose his parental rights. In these situations, an interested individual, e.g., a close relative, or government agency, may petition to terminate the absent parent’s rights.
Why Is It Important To Appoint a Testamentary Guardian of Your Children in Your Will?
It is important to appoint a testamentary guardian for one’s child because it allows the parent to make important choices about the guardian who would assume parental responsibility for their child. This would clearly be preferable to leaving the choice of a guardian to chance.
It is important to note that there are 2 kinds of guardians for a child. One is called a “conservator.” A conservator manages a child’s assets. A parent would not need to appoint a conservator if their child is not endowed with assets.
A guardian of the child is responsible for taking care of the child’s overall well-being in the event of the death or incapacity of their natural parent. In appointing a guardian, a parent would want to think about the following issues:
- Skills and Values of the Potential Guardian: A parent would want to think about the skills and values they want a guardian to have. They might want to be sure that a potential guardian has the time and inclination to care for the child and meet their needs. They may want the guardian to observe specific religious practices and have other shared values.
- Financial Stability: A parent would want to select a guardian who has the financial resources they need to care for their child. Child-rearing is expensive, and a parent would not want to place the burden on someone who cannot afford it.
- Age and Physical Condition: A parent may want to select a guardian who would be able to serve until the child reaches adulthood. This would ensure stability for the child. Choosing someone whose physical condition is compatible with the demands of raising a child would also be a good idea.
- Personal Preference: While a parent might consult with other adults and even their children about their choice, they want to make the choice themselves. A parent might also want to have a second-in-line guardian. The child’s legal guardian is more than a caregiver. A legal guardian makes the decisions about a child’s upbringing in all areas of the child’s life. This includes ensuring that there is no child abuse in their home.
- A Guardian’s Character: A parent wants to consider the best interests of their child. Some possible candidates would be a known and trusted family member, family friend, or extended family member. A court has to make the appointment and would not approve a guardian who has a history of substance abuse or a criminal record.
If a parent chooses a guardian in their will, then they have the opportunity to discuss the appointment with the guardian and confirm that they are on board with the idea. Or, a prospective guardian may indicate that they do not wish to take on the role and should not be named.
Once a parent has made a final decision, they can then work with their lawyer to draft the documents needed to make the selection legally binding. Wills, trusts, and other legal documents can be used for a guardianship decision. A local attorney in Louisiana can advise someone as to what documents are needed and then prepare them.
When Should You Consider Choosing a Guardian?
A parent may wish to choose a guardian for their minor child whenever they anticipate not being available to take care of their child. There are 2 main situations in which this may occur: when both parents pass away or when the parents expect to be temporarily incapable of providing parental supervision of their child. The latter situation might arise when the parent undergoes certain types of medical treatment, for example.
Every parent of a minor child may want to have a will that addresses the topic of a guardian for their child if both of the child’s parents were to pass away.
When Do I Need to Contact a Lawyer?
If you have questions about child custody after the death of a parent, you want to consult a Louisiana child custody lawyer. LegalMatch.com can quickly connect you to a lawyer who can explain what might happen in your particular circumstances if you should pass away and what options you may have for driving the course of events in the direction you want them to take.
