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1) What is Access and Visitation for Non-Custodial Parents?
The objective of the State of Louisiana, Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, Support Enforcement Services, under the Access and Visitation Program, is the promotion of emotional, mental and physical well being of children in the state and to facilitate and encourage the duty, obligation and responsibility of each parent to share and participate in the upbringing of their child.
To foster this mandate, the Department of Social Services has implemented a program to assist non-custodial parents in gaining access and visitation to their minor children through the courts.
2) What are my Rights and Responsibilities?
- The central test for awarding visitation rights is what is in "the best interest of the child."
- All non-custodial parents are entitled to access and visitation with their minor children, UNLESS THERE IS AN ALLEGATION OF ABUSE.
- Non-custodial parents who have a history of family violence or physical abuse toward the child or children may not be allowed visitation privileges and if allowed by the courts, only under supervised visitation.
- All access, visitation and contact between a parent and child is prohibited if that parent has been found guilty of sexual abuse.
- The Access and Visitation Program will not modify or enforce current or past visitation orders.
- There is a non-refundable application fee of $25.00. No action will be taken on my case until the fee is paid. The fee is to be paid by money order or cashier’s check made payable to DSS (please include "A&V Program" on the memo line).
- This program is available only to those individuals who have an active case with the Support Enforcement Services office.
- Failure to cooperate with the Access and Visitation Program will result in the closure of your case within 20 (twenty) days, but only as it relates to obtaining visitation. Your child support case will remain active.
- Any information that would permit identification of the parents will be held in strict confidence and will be used only by persons engaged in and for the purpose of Access and Visitation Program, except as required by law.
- (Visit here to download the Application for the Access and Visitation Program) After your application has been processed the Access and Visitation attorney will contact you for an appointment. Please bring the items available to you on the checklist for your appointment.
Checklist
- Valid driver’s license or state issued ID.
- Social Security Number.
- Divorce decree or judgment of child support.
- The children’s birth certificates.
- Copy of any Temporary Restraining Orders.
- Copy of the Financial Summary Screen from your case with Support Enforcement Services (child support office).
For more Information about the Access and Visitation Program, please contact one of the parish offices listed below.
Caddo & Bossier
(318) 294-6015
P.O Box 18590
Shreveport, LA 71138-1590
East Baton Rouge
&
Ascension
(225) 287-7446
P. O. Box 829
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0829
Lafayette & Calcasieu
(337) 262-5539
P. O. Box 3867
Lafayette, LA 70502-3867
Orleans & Jefferson
(504) 826-2255
P. O. Box 53446
New Orleans, LA 70153-3446
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