Fathers’ Rights Attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Family Law · Fathers’ Rights
Free 30-minute consultation — (337) 656-3212
I am Jacob Colonna, a fathers’ rights attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and managing attorney of Colonna Law Firm LLC, located at 900 Ryan St., Ste. 402, Lake Charles, LA 70601. I represent fathers in custody, visitation, paternity, and relocation proceedings at the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish. Louisiana law provides equal rights to both parents under La. R.S. 9:335, but those rights must be actively asserted and documented to be recognized by the court. I hold a 5.0 rating across 200+ Google reviews. To schedule a free 30-minute consultation, call (337) 656-3212.
Talk directly with Jacob about your family law case — no obligation, no pressure.
The Status Quo Trap — Why Waiting Costs You
The most common mistake I see fathers make is assuming that because Louisiana law guarantees equal rights, they don’t need to take formal legal action to protect those rights. That assumption is wrong — and expensive.
Every week that passes without a formal custody order is a week the current arrangement becomes more entrenched. If your child has been primarily in the mother’s home for six months while you waited to file, the court will treat that arrangement as the status quo. Changing it requires proving not just that equal custody is appropriate, but that disrupting the existing arrangement is in the child’s best interest. The longer you wait, the higher that bar gets.
Louisiana law is clear: under Civil Code Article 132, there is no legal preference for a mother over a father in custody matters. However, courts often default to the status quo. If you are a father fighting for equal time, you need an attorney who knows how to challenge the existing custody landscape. With the 2026 enactment of equal custody mandates, we now have a stronger legal foundation to demand 50/50 time. If your child was born outside of marriage, your first legal battle is the formal establishment of paternity, as your rights do not exist until that legal status is secured.
| The moment access to your child is being restricted — formally or informally — is the moment to call me. Not next week. Not after you have tried to work it out one more time. Now. The legal clock starts the day the situation begins, not the day you decide to do something about it. |
If you haven’t already spoken to an attorney, you’re already behind. Contact Colonna Law Firm now.
What Louisiana Law Actually Gives Fathers
Louisiana law under La. R.S. 9:335 presumes that joint custody is in the best interest of the child and that both parents have equal legal standing in custody proceedings. The court is explicitly prohibited from using gender as a factor in custody determinations. The best-interest analysis under Civil Code Article 134 applies equally to both parents.
What the law gives you is standing — the legal right to make your case. What it does not give you is a result. That requires documentation, preparation, and an attorney who knows how the judges in Divisions A, C, and J of the 14th JDC approach these cases and what they need to see to award the custody arrangement a father is fighting for.
How I Build a Father’s Custody Case
Documenting Active Involvement
The foundation of every successful fathers’ rights case is a documented track record of caregiving. I help clients build that record systematically — school involvement, medical appointments, extracurricular activities, daily routines. The court needs to see that equal custody is not just your right, but your child’s lived reality. Paper records, text messages, school communications, and medical records all become part of the factual record I present.
Countering the Visitor Label
One of the most damaging things that can happen in a custody case is for a father to be categorized as a visitor — someone who sees the child on weekends and holidays but is not part of the day-to-day fabric of the child’s life. I challenge that characterization aggressively and build the record to show the court that a father’s involvement is not peripheral — it is essential.
Act 605 and Equal Physical Custody
Effective August 1, 2026, Louisiana Act 605 amends R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b) to mandate that physical custody shall be shared equally when joint custody is ordered, unless the court determines equal sharing is not feasible or not in the child’s best interest. This is a significant development for fathers who have been receiving less than equal time. The new law makes equal physical custody the statutory starting point — not just a preference — and requires the other parent to demonstrate why equal sharing should not apply. I incorporate Act 605 into every custody strategy for cases heard after August 1, 2026.
Enforcement When Access Is Denied
If there is a court order in place and the other parent is denying your parenting time, that is contempt of court. I file enforcement motions immediately when a co-parent is violating a custody order. Courts take denial of court-ordered parenting time seriously — it is a factor in the best-interest analysis and can support a modification request when the violations are consistent and documented.
Does Louisiana law favor mothers over fathers in custody cases?
No. Louisiana law explicitly mandates a presumption in favor of joint custody under La. R.S. 9:335 and applies a gender-neutral best-interest standard under Civil Code Article 134. Judges at the 14th JDC do not award custody based on gender — the outcome is driven entirely by the factual record and the statutory best-interest factors. What determines the outcome is who builds the better case, not who the parent is.
How do I prove I deserve 50/50 custody?
When you ask about “50/50” custody, I assume you are asking about shared custody or equal visitation. A recent change in the law now presumes shared custody is in the best interest of the child. For an in-depth discussion of Art. 605 and the changes its causing in Louisiana, read more here.
Can a father get primary physical custody in Louisiana?
Yes. While joint custody is the legal starting point, a father can be awarded primary physical custody if he can demonstrate it is in the child’s best interest. This is not uncommon in cases where the mother has a history of instability, substance abuse, domestic violence, or a consistent failure to meet the child’s developmental needs. I evaluate each case honestly and tell clients whether the facts support a primary custody claim before filing.
What if the mother is preventing me from seeing my kids?
If there is a court order in place, she is in contempt of court — and I file immediately for enforcement. If there is no court order, you have no enforceable legal remedy, which is exactly why filing for formal custody the moment access is restricted is critical. Every day without a court order is a day the informal arrangement becomes more entrenched. Do not wait.
What if the mother threatens to move away with the kids if I file for custody?
Do not let that threat paralyze you. If she moves the child more than 75 miles or out of state without following Louisiana’s relocation statute — La. R.S. 9:355.1 — she is violating the law. Filing for custody immediately is the best way to prevent an unauthorized move and establish your legal right to remain an active parent. A pending custody action gives the court jurisdiction to issue emergency orders preventing relocation. See the relocation spoke page for more detail.
What if I am not on the birth certificate — do I still have parental rights?
No. An unmarried father who is not on the birth certificate has no automatic legal rights. To establish standing, you must sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity or file a formal petition to establish paternity through the court at the 14th JDC. Once paternity is legally established, you gain the same standing as any other father to seek custody and visitation. See the paternity spoke page for the full process.
Can I get weekend-only visitation changed to 50/50?
Yes, if there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order was entered — such as a change in your work schedule, the child’s age and maturity, or a change in the other parent’s circumstances. I build the modification case by demonstrating you are already an active, involved parent and that the current schedule no longer reflects the child’s best interest. Under Act 605, equal physical custody is now the statutory starting point for new arrangements — which strengthens the argument for modification in appropriate cases. For an in-depth discussion of Art. 605 and the changes its causing in Louisiana, read more here.
Do I have to pay child support if I already have 50% of the time with my kids?
Child support is calculated under the income shares model at La. R.S. 9:315, which accounts for the number of overnights each parent has. If you have substantial custody time — particularly if you qualify for the shared custody worksheet under Louisiana law — your support obligation may be significantly reduced compared to a standard visitation schedule. The calculation depends on both parents’ incomes and the exact custody split. I calculate the correct worksheet and obligation for every client before any support proceeding begins.
Can a father relocate with his children in Louisiana?
Yes, but only if he complies with Louisiana’s relocation statute under La. R.S. 9:355.1. A relocating father must provide 60 days’ written notice and either obtain the other parent’s consent or a court order before moving more than 75 miles within Louisiana or out of state. Failing to follow this process can result in contempt charges and court orders to return the child. See the relocation spoke page for the full process and strategic considerations.
Have a family law matter in Lake Charles? Colonna Law Firm, LLC offers a free 30-minute consultation.
📞 (337) 656-3212 🌐 www.colonnalawfirm.com 📍 900 Ryan Street, Suite 402 | Lake Charles, LA 70601
Jacob Colonna is a family law attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana with 17 years of experience at the 14th Judicial District Court. He serves clients in Calcasieu, Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, and Allen Parishes with family law cases. Jacob Colonna is a trial attorney with extensive courtroom experience across all stages of Louisiana family law proceedings — from the beginning through trials and appeals.
Last Reviewed: June 2026 | Content reviewed by Jacob Colonna, Attorney at Law
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