Art. 1269.3. Continuing contact agreement; parties; required declarations

A. Every post-adoption contact agreement shall be in writing and signed by the adopting parents and by any adult granted contact. If a sibling granted contact is a minor, his parent or legal custodian shall sign the agreement.

B. In an agency adoption in which the department is the custodian of the child, the department and counsel for the child shall report to the court approval or objection to the agreement and the child's wishes concerning continuing contact. The court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for the child, if any, may also submit recommendations to the court regarding a proposed agreement.

C. If requested by the parties, the court may refer them to mediation to assist them in confecting a continuing contact agreement. If necessary to ensure that the child's best interest is taken into account, the court may also appoint independent counsel for any child involved in future continuing contact.

D. A continuing contact agreement may authorize the exchange of information, communication by telephone, mail, e-mail, or other means, and direct visitation in either the adopting parents' home or elsewhere through a mutually agreed-upon intermediary.

E. Every agreement, in order to be enforceable in accordance with Article 1269.8, must recite the following declarations:

(1) The parties have freely and voluntarily entered into the agreement and it reflects their intent to be bound by its terms, unless later modified by a replacement agreement or by court order.

(2) The sibling, grandparent, parent, or other relative by blood, adoption, or affinity, or his representative, if any, has been counseled and advised by the department, by counsel, or by other appropriate professional about the meaning of these declarations and the effects of a continuing contact agreement and each has had the opportunity to have the agreement reviewed by his counsel.

(3) The sibling, grandparent, parent, or other relative by blood, adoption, or affinity, or his representative, has been informed and understands that upon the execution of the agreement, any dispute or litigation regarding its terms shall not affect the validity of any surrender, termination of parental rights, adoption, or custody of the adopted child.

(4) The adopting parents have been informed and understand that the sibling, grandparent, parent, or other relative by blood, adoption, or affinity may seek enforcement of the terms of the agreement in accordance with Article 1269.8.

F. The continuing contact agreement shall contain the requirements in substantially the following form:

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF (NAME OF PARISH)

AGREEMENT FOR POST-ADOPTION CONTINUING CONTACT

We (NAME OF ADOPTIVE PARENT(S)) and (NAME OF ADULT PERSON PERMITTED CONTACT BY ARTICLE 1269.2) agree to post-adoption continuing contact between (NAME OF ADOPTED CHILD) and (NAME OF PERSON PERMITTED CONTACT) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement reflects our commitment to an on-going, cooperative relationship focused upon meeting (NAME OF CHILD)'s needs now and in the future, fully recognizing that those needs may change as (HE/SHE) matures.

OR

We (NAME OF ADOPTIVE PARENT(S)) and (NAME OF ADULT PARENT, GUARDIAN OR LEGAL CUSTODIAN OF MINOR SIBLING) agree to post-adoption continuing contact between (NAME OF ADOPTED CHILD) and (NAME OF MINOR SIBLING) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement reflects our recognition of the significance and enduring nature of sibling relationships and our commitment to supporting and preserving the on-going relationship between (NAME OF CHILD) and (MINOR SIBLING).

We have each freely and voluntarily entered into this Agreement and intend to be bound by its terms. We have been counseled and advised by the Department, our attorney, or other appropriate professional of the meaning of these declarations, the effects of a continuing contact agreement, and the opportunity to have our own respective counsel review this Agreement.

We recognize that any dispute or litigation regarding the terms of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any surrender or termination of parental rights, adoption, or custody of (NAME OF CHILD).

We also recognize that upon approval of the court, this Agreement becomes legally binding and any party to it may seek enforcement of its terms.

We also agree that (NAME OF DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE or NAME OF COUNSEL FOR ADOPTIVE PARENT) shall file this Agreement with the proper court of jurisdiction by (DATE NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS FROM EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT) requesting the court's approval of this Agreement in accordance with Louisiana Children's Code Article 1269.5.

We agree to the following enforceable post-adoption continuing contact:

(INSERT PROVISIONS NEGOTIATED BY PARTIES.)

This Agreement reflects our minimum expectations regarding continuing contact for the duration of the minority of (NAME OF CHILD). We understand that we can agree upon other continuing contact arrangements in the future through informal or formal means. However, we recognize that these minimum expectations must be preserved until such time as we modify them by mutual written agreement or the court modifies or terminates this Agreement in accordance with Louisiana Children's Code Article 1269.8.

We certify that we enter this Agreement in good faith and intend that it always be interpreted to serve (NAME OF CHILD)'s best interest. We agree that we will always attempt to resolve any disagreement that may arise in (HIS/HER) best interest and acknowledge that court modification or enforcement is to be used only as a last resort when all informal means of resolution have been exhausted. We acknowledge that Louisiana Children's Code Article 1269.8 authorizes the court to hear a motion to enforce, modify, or terminate this Agreement only after we have attempted in good faith to mediate the issues underlying our disagreement. Should mediation fail to resolve our differences, the court may modify or terminate this Agreement upon finding a change of circumstances and the Agreement no longer serves the best interest of (NAME OF CHILD).

This instrument reflects the entire agreement between us regarding post-adoption continuing contact. There are no promises, terms, conditions, or obligations other than those stated in this written Agreement.

We acknowledge that unless it is the legal custodian of a minor sibling named in this Agreement, the Department of Children and Family Services, office of children and family services, is not a party to this Agreement and has no responsibility for enforcement of it.

This Agreement becomes effective upon approval of the court in accordance with Louisiana Children's Code Article 1269.5.

THIS DONE, READ, AND SIGNED this day of __________,

20 , Parish of (NAME OF PARISH), State of Louisiana.

_______________________________________________________

ADOPTING PARENT

_______________________________________________________

OTHER ADOPTING PARENT, IF ANY

_______________________________________________________

ADULT PERSON PERMITTED CONTACT

_______________________________________________________

ADULT PARENT, GUARDIAN OR LEGAL CUSTODIAN OF MINOR SIBLING

____________________________________

WITNESS

____________________________________

WITNESS

____________________________________

NOTARY

Acts 2001, No. 568, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2008, No. 583, §§1, 2.