A Louisiana minor child power of attorney is a written legal document that delegates provisional custody (temporary care) of a child to another person.[1.1] A parent or other person with parental authority makes the delegation. The delegation can last no longer than one year.[1.2] Parents often use it during illness, military deployment or extended travel. You can create the form online with FormsPal or download the free power of attorney Louisiana PDF.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Louisiana law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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What Is a Louisiana Minor Child Power of Attorney? Laws and Requirements
This power of attorney lets a person with parental authority delegate provisional custody of a child by written mandate (a written authorization) to any natural person.[1.1] Louisiana covers it in La. Rev. Stat. §§ 9:951 and 9:952. The mandate can last no longer than one year, and a person with parental authority can end it sooner.[1.2]
Who can delegate: a person having parental authority over the child.[1.1]
Who can be the agent: any natural person, which means an individual rather than an organization.[1.1]
Form: the delegation is made by written mandate, so put it in writing.[1.1]
Time limit: the stated term cannot exceed one year from the date of execution, which is the date the document is signed.[1.2]
Ending early: whatever term the mandate states, it ends when any person having parental authority revokes it.[1.2]
The statute states the time limit in these words:
The mandate of provisional custody shall be effective for the term stipulated, but the stated term shall not exceed one year from the date of execution.
People also look for this document as a provisional custody by mandate form or a Louisiana temporary guardianship form. The form on this page lets a parent hand a child's day-to-day care to another person for a set time. It states that the signers do not intend to give up their parental rights over the child. If you need a different document, see all Louisiana POA forms, including legal forms for health care and finances.
Louisiana Minor Child Power of Attorney Form Details
The FormsPal Louisiana minor child power of attorney is a three-page template with 44 fillable fields. Pages 1 and 2 hold your entries and signing lines, and page 3 is an acknowledgment for a notary public. Work through the seven parts below in order. If you download the power of attorney Louisiana PDF, you can fill it in on screen with the free FormsPal PDF editor.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Louisiana minor child power of attorney template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
Parent, guardian or conservator, and the child (page 1). Enter your name and address. Put your initials on the line that matches your role: Parent, Court-Appointed Guardian or Court-Appointed Conservator. Then add the child's name, date of birth and address.Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Additional parent and the agent (page 1). Complete the "In addition, I" statement only if more than one parent, guardian or conservator is signing. Then write the name and address of the agent (the attorney-in-fact) you appoint. The agent can be any natural person.[1.1]Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Powers and successor agent (page 2). Choose item 1 to give the agent all the authority that may be delegated, including consent to medical treatment, decisions about schooling, and support, care, housing and nourishment for the child. Or choose item 2 and write the limited authority on the lines provided. Then name a successor agent, who steps in if the first agent is unable or unwilling to serve.Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Effective date (page 2). Write the date the power of attorney takes effect and the date it continues until. The term cannot exceed one year from the date of execution, so choose an end date within that time.[1.2]Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Parental rights statement, date and signatures (page 2). The form states that you do not intend to give up your parental rights over the child. That statement needs no entry. Fill in the "Signed this" day, month and year. Then sign and print your name on a signature line. A second parent, guardian or conservator uses the other line.Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: county, date and officer (page 3). Page 3 is an acknowledgment for a notary public or other officer. Complete the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who appeared before the officer.Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Officer signature and seal (page 3). The notary public or other officer signs this line and adds the seal, so leave it blank until then. The certificate says the officer verifies only the identity of the person who signed, not whether the document is true, accurate or valid.Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
How to Sign and Use the Louisiana Minor Child Power of Attorney
After you fill in the Louisiana minor child power of attorney, sign it and share it with the people who will rely on it, such as the agent, the child's school and the child's doctor. The steps below are general practice. They are not rules of Louisiana law.
Consider a notary. The form includes an acknowledgment for a notary public or other officer, which you can have completed when you sign.
Consider a witness. The form prints no witness lines. Some people still ask an adult to watch the signing and keep a note of it with the document.
Give copies to the agent and others. Give the agent a copy. Many people also share copies with the child's school and doctor, so they know who is caring for the child.
Keep the original safe. Store the signed original where you can find it quickly and keep a copy with it.
Watch the end date. Note the end date you wrote on page 2. The delegation cannot last more than one year, and a person with parental authority can revoke it earlier.[1.2]
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Frequently Asked Questions
These short answers cover what parents most often ask about delegating a child's care in Louisiana, from how long the document lasts to who can serve as the agent. Each one cites the section it rests on.
Does a minor child power of attorney expire in Louisiana?
Yes. The mandate lasts for the term it states, but that term cannot exceed one year from the date of execution.[1.2] Write an end date within one year of signing on page 2 of the form.
Who can I name as the agent for my child in Louisiana?
Any natural person can serve as the agent.[1.1] Write the name on page 1 of the form.
Can I revoke a Louisiana minor child power of attorney?
Yes, if you have parental authority. Whatever term the mandate states, it ends when any person having parental authority revokes it.[1.2]
Does a Louisiana minor child power of attorney have to be in writing?
Yes. A person with parental authority delegates provisional custody of a child by written mandate.[1.1] The FormsPal template gives you that written document.
Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.
