La. Ch. Code art. 606
This is the official text of La. Ch. Code art. 606, 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.
Grounds; child in need of care
Official statutory text
A. Allegations that a child is in need of care shall assert one or more of the following grounds:
(1) The child is the victim of abuse perpetrated, aided, or tolerated by the parent or caretaker, by a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement relationship with the parent or caretaker, or by a person living in the same residence with the parent or caretaker as a spouse whether married or not, and his welfare is seriously endangered if he is left within the custody or control of that parent or caretaker.
(2) The child is a victim of neglect.
(3) The child is without necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision because of the disappearance or prolonged absence of his parent or when, for any other reason, the child is placed at substantial risk of imminent harm because of the continuing absence of the parent.
(4) As a result of a criminal prosecution, the parent has been convicted of a crime against the child who is the subject of this proceeding, or against another child of the parent, and the parent is now unable to retain custody or control or the child's welfare is otherwise endangered if left within the parent's custody or control.
(5) The conduct of the parent, either as principal or accessory, constitutes a crime against the child or against any other child.
(6) - (8) Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 158, §7.
B. A child whose parent is unable to provide basic support, supervision, treatment, or services due to inadequate financial resources shall not, for that reason alone, be determined to be a child in need of care.
C. A diagnosis of factitious disorder imposed on another, formerly known as "Munchausen syndrome by proxy", shall not constitute grounds, either entirely or partially, for a determination that a child is in need of care unless that diagnosis is made in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:1745.2.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 705, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 1095, §2; Acts 1999, No. 1178, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2012, No. 446, §6; Acts 2012, No. 730, §1; Acts 2014, No. 564, §§8, 10; Acts 2017, No. 376, §1; Acts 2018, No. 193, §2; Acts 2018, No. 458, §2; Acts 2021, No. 158, §7.
(1) The child is the victim of abuse perpetrated, aided, or tolerated by the parent or caretaker, by a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement relationship with the parent or caretaker, or by a person living in the same residence with the parent or caretaker as a spouse whether married or not, and his welfare is seriously endangered if he is left within the custody or control of that parent or caretaker.
(2) The child is a victim of neglect.
(3) The child is without necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision because of the disappearance or prolonged absence of his parent or when, for any other reason, the child is placed at substantial risk of imminent harm because of the continuing absence of the parent.
(4) As a result of a criminal prosecution, the parent has been convicted of a crime against the child who is the subject of this proceeding, or against another child of the parent, and the parent is now unable to retain custody or control or the child's welfare is otherwise endangered if left within the parent's custody or control.
(5) The conduct of the parent, either as principal or accessory, constitutes a crime against the child or against any other child.
(6) - (8) Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 158, §7.
B. A child whose parent is unable to provide basic support, supervision, treatment, or services due to inadequate financial resources shall not, for that reason alone, be determined to be a child in need of care.
C. A diagnosis of factitious disorder imposed on another, formerly known as "Munchausen syndrome by proxy", shall not constitute grounds, either entirely or partially, for a determination that a child is in need of care unless that diagnosis is made in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 37:1745.2.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 705, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 1095, §2; Acts 1999, No. 1178, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2012, No. 446, §6; Acts 2012, No. 730, §1; Acts 2014, No. 564, §§8, 10; Acts 2017, No. 376, §1; Acts 2018, No. 193, §2; Acts 2018, No. 458, §2; Acts 2021, No. 158, §7.
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.