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The courts will consider the wishes of a child in a custody case if they are old enough to understand the situation. This typically means that a child who is at least 12 years old may have a say in a custody arrangement.

Unlike other states that only grant children over a certain age the opportunity to express their preference, Louisiana will consider the child's maturity. For example, a 13-year-old may say she wants to live with her mother because her father does not let her go out with friends without an adult present.

Once the parents agree to the custody arrangement, they need to file a petition for custody. The petition can get filed in the parish where the child lives or where the parents got married. The petition includes the details of the agreement and asks the court to approve it.

Nonparent visitation can typically get established through the court system. The nonparent seeking visitation rights would need to file a petition with the appropriate court and provide evidence supporting their request for visitation.

There is no age in Louisiana at which a child has the right to decide with whom he/she wants to live. Unlike other states, there is not even a presumption that at any age that a child can make that decision. A child's preference is a consideration only, it is only one factor. Welcome!

Technically, any child who is not yet a legal adult isn't allowed to refuse visitation. In practice, however, the situation is a bit murkier than that. Prior to age 18, the age varies as when a court will consider the child's preference as to one parent over another.