Louisiana Civil Code

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TITLE V - DIVORCE

CHAPTER 1 - THE DIVORCE ACTION

Art. 102. Except in the case of a covenant marriage, a divorce shall be granted upon motion of a spouse when either spouse has filed a petition for divorce and upon proof that the requisite period of time, in accordance with Article 103.1, has elapsed from the service of the petition, or from the execution of written waiver of the service, and that the spouses have lived separate and apart continuously for at least the requisite period of time, in accordance with Article 103.1, prior to the filing of the rule to show cause.

The motion shall be a rule to show cause filed after all such delays have elapsed. [Amended by Acts 1952, No. 229, §1; Acts 1958, No. 331; Acts 1990, No. 1009, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 367, §1; Acts 1993, No. 107, §1; Acts 1995, No. 386, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1380, §1; Acts 2006, No. 743, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007]

Art. 103. Except in the case of a covenant marriage, a divorce shall be granted on the petition of a spouse upon proof that:

(1) The spouses have been living separate and apart continuously for the requisite period of time, in accordance with Article 103.1, or more on the date the petition is filed.

(2) The other spouse has committed adultery.

(3) The other spouse has committed a felony and has been sentenced to death or imprisonment at hard labor. [Acts 1990, No. 1009, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 918, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1380, §1; Acts 2006, No. 743, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007]

(4) During the marriage, the other spouse physically or sexually abused the spouse seeking divorce or a child of one of the spouses, regardless of whether the other spouse was prosecuted for the act of abuse. [Amended by Acts 2015, No. 221, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2015]

(5) After a contradictory hearing or consent decree, a protective order or an injunction was issued during the marriage against the other spouse to protect the spouse seeking the divorce or a child of one of the spouses from abuse. [Amended by Acts 2014, No. 316, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014; amended by Acts 2015, No. 221, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2015; amended by Acts 2018, No. 265, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2018]

Art. 103.1. The requisite periods of time, in accordance with Articles 102 and 103 shall be as follows:

(1) One hundred eighty days where there are no minor children of the marriage.

(2) Three hundred sixty-five days when there are minor children of the marriage at the time the rule to show cause is filed in accordance with Article 102 or a petition is filed in accordance with Article 103. [Acts 2006, No. 743, Acts. 2010, No. 604 §1, eff. Jun. 25, 2010, [Amended by Acts 2014, No.316, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014]

Art. 104. The cause of action for divorce is extinguished by the reconciliation of the parties. [Amended by Acts 1979, No. 677, §1; Acts 1980, No. 351, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1009, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991]

Art. 105. In a proceeding for divorce or thereafter, either spouse may request a determination of custody, visitation, or support of a minor child; support for a spouse; injunctive relief; use and occupancy of the family home or use of community movables or immovables; or use of personal property. [Acts 1984, No. 817, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1009, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991]

Arts. 106-110. [Blank]

CHAPTER 2 - PROVISIONAL AND INCIDENTAL PROCEEDINGS

SECTION 1 - SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Art. 111. In a proceeding for divorce or thereafter, the court may award interim periodic support to a party or may award final periodic support to a party who is in need of support and who is free from fault prior to the filing of a proceeding to terminate the marriage in accordance with the following Articles. [Amended by Acts 1928, No. 130; Acts 1979, No. 72, §1; Acts 1990, No. 361, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1078, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2006, No. 749, §1, eff. June 30, 2006]

Art. 112. A. When a spouse has not been at fault prior to the filing of a petition for divorce and is in need of support, based on the needs of that party and the ability of the other party to pay, that spouse may be awarded final periodic support in accordance with Paragraph B of this Article.

B. The court shall consider all relevant factors in determining the amount and duration of final support, including:

(1) The income and means of the parties, including the liquidity of such means.

(2) The financial obligations of the parties, including any interim allowance or final child support obligation. [Amended by Acts 2014, No. 616, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014]

(3) The earning capacity of the parties.

(4) The effect of custody of children upon a party's earning capacity.

(5) The time necessary for the claimant to acquire appropriate education, training, or employment.

(6) The health and age of the parties.

(7) The duration of the marriage.

(8) The tax consequences to either or both parties.

(9) The existence, effect, and duration of any act of domestic abuse committed by the other spouse upon the claimant or a child of one of the spouses, regardless of whether the other spouse was prosecuted for the act of domestic violence.

C. When a spouse is awarded a judgment of divorce pursuant to Article 103(2), (3), (4), or (5), or when the court determines that a party or a child of one of the spouses was the victim of domestic abuse committed by the other party during the marriage, that spouse is presumed to be entitled to final periodic support.

D. The sum awarded under this Article shall not exceed one-third of the obligor's net income. Nevertheless, when support is awarded after a judgment of divorce is rendered pursuant to Article 103(4) or (5), or when the court determines that a party or a child of one of the spouses was the victim of domestic abuse committed by the other party during the marriage, the sum awarded may exceed one-third of the obligor’s net income and may be awarded as a lump sum. [Amended by Acts 1916, No. 247; Acts 1928, No. 21; Acts 1934, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 27; Acts 1964, No. 48; Acts 1979, No. 72, §1; Acts 1982, No. 293, §1; Acts 1986, No. 229, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1078, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2006, No. 749, §1, eff. June 30, 2006, Acts 2014, No. 316, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 265, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2018]

Art. 113. A. Upon motion of a party, the court may award a party interim spousal support based on the needs of that party, the ability of the other party to pay, any interim or final child support obligation, and the standard of living of the parties during the marriage. An award of interim spousal support allowance shall terminate one hundred eighty days from the rendition of a judgment of divorce, except that the award may extend beyond one hundred eighty days but for good cause shown. An obligation to pay final periodic support shall not begin until an interim spousal support award has terminated. [Amended by Acts 2014, No.316, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014, Corrected by Acts 2014, No 616, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014; amended by Acts 2018, No. 265, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2018]

Art. 114. An award of interim spousal support or final periodic support may be modified if the circumstances of either party materially change and shall be terminated if it has become unnecessary. The subsequent remarriage of the obligor spouse shall not constitute a change of circumstance. [Acts 1997, No. 1078, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 1049, §1; amended by Acts 2018, No. 265, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2018]

Art. 115. The obligation of support is extinguished upon the remarriage of the obligee, the death of either party, or a judicial determination that the obligee has cohabited with another person of either sex in the manner of married persons. [Acts 1997, No. 1078, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; amended by Acts 2018, No. 265, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2018]

Art. 116. The obligation of final spousal support may be modified, waived, or extinguished by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or by authentic act or act under private signature duly acknowledged by the obligee. [Acts 1997, No. 1078, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998]

Art. 117. The right to claim after divorce the obligation of spousal support is subject to a peremption of three years. Peremption begins to run from the latest of the following events:

(1) The day the judgment of divorce is signed.

(2) The day a judgment terminating a previous judgment of spousal support is signed, if the previous judgment was signed in an action commenced either before the signing of the judgment of divorce or within three years thereafter.

(3) The day of the last payment made, when the spousal support obligation is initially performed by voluntary payment within the periods described in Paragraph (1) or (2) and no more than three years has elapsed between payments. [Acts 1997, No. 1078, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998]

Art. 118. [Repealed by Acts 2018, No. 265, §2, eff. Aug. 1, 2018]

Art. 119. [Blank]

Art. 120. [Repealed. Acts 1985, No. 271, §1]




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