Change an Existing Louisiana Family Court Order
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A Louisiana family court order is not permanent, but changing one is its own filing in the District Court, usually in the Family or Domestic Division, normally inside the case that produced the original order.
Courts generally want to see that something real has changed since the last order, not simply that you have changed your mind. For support, an updated financial affidavit almost always rides along with the request. The official documents below are what Louisiana publishes for this.
Official Louisiana modification resources
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Louisiana family law forms (official index) (Louisiana judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Louisiana family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://lasc.libguides.com/resources-for-self-represented-litigants
Louisiana financial affidavit and disclosure forms (lasc.org): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most Louisiana family cases ask both sides to complete. https://www.lasc.org/rules/supreme/APPENDIXA_FINANCIAL.asp
Louisiana child support guideline resources (lasc.org): Official Louisiana child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.dss.state.la.us/page/child-support-guidelines
Louisiana court self-help resources (Louisiana courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Louisiana family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.louisianalawhelp.org
Verified official Louisiana modification documents
These official documents are used to ask a Louisiana court to change an order that already exists.
Rule to Modify Child Support (Modification), official document: https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLModifyChildSupport.pdf
Rule to Modify Custody / Visitation (Modification), official document: https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLRuletoModifyCustody2021.pdf
Official link data for Louisiana was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Do I start a new case to change my order?
Usually not. A modification is normally filed inside the existing case, and the other parent has to be served with it. Check the official Louisiana instructions above for how this state handles it.
What counts as enough of a change?
Courts look for a real, lasting change in circumstances, such as a significant income change, a move, or a serious change in the child's needs. The judge decides whether your facts clear the bar.
How much does it cost to file a family case in Louisiana?
Divorce filing fee: ~$200-$400 by parish. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.
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