La. Stat. tit. 13 § 3491

Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 13:3491 - Divorce under Civil Code Article 102; notice of suit

A. A notice in a divorce action in accordance with Civil Code Article 102 shall be signed by the clerk of the court or his deputy issuing it with an expression of his official capacity and under the seal of his office; shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the petition, exclusive of exhibits, even if made a part thereof; and shall contain all of the following:

(1) The date of issuance.

(2) The title of the cause.

(3) The name of the person to whom it is addressed.

(4) The title and location of the court issuing it.

(5) Statements to the following effect:

(a) The person served is being sued for divorce by his spouse in accordance with Civil Code Article 102, and that one hundred eighty days or three hundred sixty-five days, in accordance with Civil Code Article 103.1, after the service occurs or after the parties commenced living separate and apart, whichever is later, the suing spouse is entitled to file a motion for final divorce.

(b) The suing spouse will no longer be able to move for a final divorce after two years have elapsed from the date of the service.

(c) The person served is entitled to file his or her own motion for a final divorce against the suing spouse.

(d) The person served is entitled to file motions for incidental relief in the divorce proceeding, including motions for spousal support, child custody, and child support.

B. The statements required to appear in the notice shall provide substantially as applicable:

ATTENTION

YOU ARE BEING SUED FOR DIVORCE BY YOUR SPOUSE. ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS NOTICE OR ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED, WHICHEVER OCCURRED LAST, YOUR SPOUSE MAY FILE FOR AND OBTAIN A FINAL DIVORCE.

(or)

YOU ARE BEING SUED FOR DIVORCE BY YOUR SPOUSE. THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS NOTICE OR THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED, WHICHEVER OCCURRED LAST, YOUR SPOUSE MAY FILE FOR AND OBTAIN A FINAL DIVORCE.

(and)

YOU MAY FILE FOR A FINAL DIVORCE YOURSELF, AND YOU MAY SEEK CUSTODY OF CHILDREN, AND MONEY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND YOUR SUPPORT, AS WELL AS OTHER RELIEF TO PROTECT YOU.

IF YOUR SPOUSE FAILS TO FILE FOR A FINAL DIVORCE IN TWO YEARS, HE MAY NOT DO SO WITHOUT FILING NEW PAPERS AND WAITING ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS.

(or)

IF YOUR SPOUSE FAILS TO FILE FOR A FINAL DIVORCE IN TWO YEARS, HE MAY NOT DO SO WITHOUT FILING NEW PAPERS AND WAITING ANOTHER THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS.

(and)

IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO AS A RESULT OF THIS NOTICE, YOU SHOULD TALK IMMEDIATELY WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT IT.

La. R.S. § 13:3491

Acts 1990, No. 1009, §8, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, No. 323, §1; Acts 1995, No. 386, §3; Acts 2006, No. 743, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2007.

Acts 1990, No. 1009, §8, eff. 1/1/1991; Acts 1995, No. 323, §1; Acts 1995, No. 386, §3; Acts 2006, No. 743, §3, eff. 1/1/2007.