La. Ch. Code art. 1027
This is the official text of La. Ch. Code art. 1027, part of Louisiana’s Children's Code — governs child custody, child protection, and juvenile justice in Louisiana.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Discovery rights; access to department records
Official statutory text
A. At any stage of the proceedings, upon written motion of counsel for the protected person or his parent, the court may order the district attorney or the department to permit counsel to inspect:
(1) Reports of investigation in the possession or control of the district attorney or the department.
(2) Reports of evaluations or tests pertaining to the child in the possession or control of the district attorney or the department.
(3) The case records maintained by the department pertaining to the child and the parent, except information otherwise protected under R.S. 46:56 or by restrictive order pursuant to Article 1028.
(4) Any videotape of a protected person made in compliance with Chapter 8 of Title III which is in the possession or control of the district attorney or the department.
B. The court shall order the district attorney or the department to permit counsel to inspect and copy any physical evidence, documents, or photographs which the state intends to offer into evidence at the hearing as provided for in Subparagraphs A(1), (2), and (4). However, the court may, in its discretion, permit the inspection of evidence provided for in Subparagraph A(3).
C. If counsel for the child or his parents is provided discovery, the court may condition that order upon reciprocal discovery by the state.
D. The court shall not order the production or inspection of any part of a writing that reflects the mental impressions, conclusions, or theories of an attorney nor any other type of discovery except that expressly authorized by this Article.
E. The duties imposed by a discovery order continue while the child is subject to the jurisdiction of the court, unless the order provides otherwise.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §10, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 241, §1.
(1) Reports of investigation in the possession or control of the district attorney or the department.
(2) Reports of evaluations or tests pertaining to the child in the possession or control of the district attorney or the department.
(3) The case records maintained by the department pertaining to the child and the parent, except information otherwise protected under R.S. 46:56 or by restrictive order pursuant to Article 1028.
(4) Any videotape of a protected person made in compliance with Chapter 8 of Title III which is in the possession or control of the district attorney or the department.
B. The court shall order the district attorney or the department to permit counsel to inspect and copy any physical evidence, documents, or photographs which the state intends to offer into evidence at the hearing as provided for in Subparagraphs A(1), (2), and (4). However, the court may, in its discretion, permit the inspection of evidence provided for in Subparagraph A(3).
C. If counsel for the child or his parents is provided discovery, the court may condition that order upon reciprocal discovery by the state.
D. The court shall not order the production or inspection of any part of a writing that reflects the mental impressions, conclusions, or theories of an attorney nor any other type of discovery except that expressly authorized by this Article.
E. The duties imposed by a discovery order continue while the child is subject to the jurisdiction of the court, unless the order provides otherwise.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §10, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 241, §1.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a child custody matter in Louisiana?
See all Louisiana Child Custody lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.