Facing a custody decision in New Orleans? Here is who handles these cases.
Top Child Custody Lawyers in New Orleans, LA
Louisiana decides custody on one standard: the best interest of the child. These eight verified New Orleans-area family law firms handle custody disputes, parenting plans, support, and modifications, and several include attorneys board-certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.
Updated June 04, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Custody is the part of a separation that keeps parents up at night. In Louisiana, the court decides custody and parenting time using a single legal standard - the best interest of the child - measured against a list of statutory factors covering each parent's involvement, stability, and ability to meet the child's needs. The law is gender-neutral; mothers and fathers start on equal footing.
Louisiana also separates the questions of custody, parenting time, and child support, even though they interact. Most cases end in a parenting plan: a written agreement or court order that spells out legal and physical custody, the schedule, holidays, and how decisions get made. A clear plan prevents conflict later, which is why good lawyers spend real time getting it right.
Custody is not frozen, either. As children grow and circumstances change, parents return to court to modify the schedule, decision-making, or support. The firms below handle both first-time custody orders and post-judgment modifications, so the working relationship often lasts beyond the initial case. Each was verified against at least two independent sources.
How we picked these 8: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable New Orleans-area child custody practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Lowe Stein has served New Orleans for more than 40 years from Poydras Street and is one of the region's most established family law practices. Founding attorney Robert C. Lowe is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist, and the firm includes additional board-certified specialists. It handles complex, high-asset, and high-conflict custody and divorce matters.
Why they made the list: Robert C. Lowe has been selected to Super Lawyers for many years, and the firm's attorneys hold AV Preeminent ratings and Best Lawyers recognition.
Winsberg, Heidingsfelder & Gamble represents clients in all phases of family and matrimonial law from an office on Poydras Street in New Orleans. Founding attorney Marc D. Winsberg is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist, and the firm focuses on divorce and custody, including high-conflict and high-asset cases. Associate Jonathan Gamble was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for family law.
Why they made the list: Marc Winsberg is a Super Lawyer and Louisiana Board Certified Family Law Specialist, with Jonathan Gamble named a Super Lawyers Rising Star.
Salley & Salley is a mother-and-daughter family law team that has served the greater New Orleans region since 1989 from N. Causeway Boulevard in Metairie. Laurel Salley has been a Board Certified Family Law Specialist since 2004. The firm handles custody disputes, divorce, and related family matters, including collaborative law.
Why they made the list: Both Sandra Salley and Laurel Salley have been recognized on the Super Lawyers list, and Laurel Salley is a current Louisiana Board Certified Family Law Specialist.
Metairie / New Orleans, LAFull-service firm with family law practice
Practice focus: Child custody, divorce, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Chehardy Sherman Williams is a full-service firm serving the New Orleans community since 1989, with offices in New Orleans, Metairie, and Hammond. Its family law team handles divorce, custody, support, and prenuptial matters across Southeast Louisiana. Attorney Jane C. Scheuermann is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist.
Why they made the list: The firm has been recognized in Best Lawyers Best Law Firms rankings, and family law attorney Jane C. Scheuermann holds Louisiana board certification.
Betsy A. Fischer leads a Metairie-based family and estate planning firm serving Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, and surrounding parishes. Fischer has more than three decades of experience in divorce, custody, support, and property matters and is the author of a reference book on divorce in Louisiana. The firm emphasizes protecting parental rights and securing fair custody agreements.
Why they made the list: Fischer holds Avvo recognition including a Clients' Choice award and Top Contributor status and has received state and national family-law honors.
Practice focus: Child custody, divorce (contested and uncontested), child support, spousal support, property partition, successions
Rotharmel Shanks, founded in 2010 and located on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, focuses solely on family law across Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, and St. Charles parishes. The firm is led by Tracy Rotharmel Shanks and includes family law litigator Kyla Rogers. It offers established pricing, including a flat fee for uncontested divorces.
Why they made the list: The firm maintains strong client review ratings and is listed in FindLaw, Justia, and LawyerLand attorney directories as a dedicated New Orleans family law practice.
Fee structure
Hourly/retainer for contested; flat fee for uncontested divorce
Camille Patti is a New Orleans family law attorney based on Poydras Street whose practice centers on custody, support, divorce, and property division. She holds a J.D. magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School and structures her practice around transparent flat-fee packages and limited-scope services for custody, child support, and uncontested divorce.
Why they made the list: Patti is profiled in the Justia and Super Lawyers attorney directories and is noted for flat-fee, accessible family law representation.
Fee structure
Flat-fee packages for uncontested matters; hourly for contested
Metairie / New Orleans, LAFamily law & estate planning firm
Practice focus: Child custody, child support, visitation, divorce (uncontested and simple)
Southern Legal Clinics is a family-owned practice serving Southeastern Louisiana since 1981, with multiple offices including Metairie and New Orleans. The firm represents clients in child support, custody, visitation, and divorce matters. Attorney H. Patrick Rooney has more than 28 years of family law experience and personally handles client matters.
Why they made the list: The firm and attorney Pat Rooney are listed on Expertise.com's New Orleans child support lawyers list, with an established multi-office presence since 1981.
Fee structure
Hourly/retainer; flat-fee options for uncontested matters
Tell us about your situation and your children. We will connect you with a New Orleans family law attorney who handles custody cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in New Orleans
Look for a Louisiana Board Certified Family Law Specialist. Louisiana certifies a small number of family law specialists. Several firms below have one - it is a strong signal of focused expertise.
Match the lawyer to your conflict level. An amicable co-parenting case needs a different approach than a high-conflict dispute with safety concerns. Be honest about which you have.
Ask how they handle the parenting plan. The plan is the document you will live with for years. A good lawyer drafts it carefully rather than leaving gaps that cause fights later.
Understand the fee structure. Contested custody is usually billed hourly against a retainer. Some firms offer flat fees for uncontested matters. Ask for an estimate of the likely range.
Confirm they handle modifications. Children's needs change. A firm that handles post-judgment modifications can stay with you as circumstances shift.
What child custody help typically costs in New Orleans
Custody fees in New Orleans depend heavily on whether the case is agreed or contested. Here is the range:
Initial consultation. Free at some firms, paid at others - call to confirm before you book.
Uncontested or agreed custody. Some firms offer flat fees, often starting in the high hundreds plus court costs, when both parents agree.
Contested custody. Billed hourly against a retainer. New Orleans family lawyers commonly charge roughly $250 to $450 per hour, with retainers that vary by complexity.
Court costs and filing fees. Paid to the court separately, typically a few hundred dollars depending on the parish and filings.
Experts and evaluations. High-conflict cases may involve a custody evaluator or other experts, which add cost. Your lawyer will tell you if yours is likely to need one.
The biggest cost driver is conflict. Cases that settle through agreement or mediation cost far less than those that go to a full custody trial.
How long it takes
Custody timelines in New Orleans depend on the court's calendar and how contested the case is:
Filing and temporary orders. Initial filings and any temporary custody orders can come within weeks, especially where safety is at issue.
Mediation or negotiation. Many parishes encourage or require mediation. An agreed parenting plan can resolve the case in a few months.
Custody evaluation (if ordered). In contested cases, an evaluation can add several months while an expert assesses both households.
Hearing or trial. A contested custody trial may be set many months out, depending on the court. The judge then issues a custody judgment.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a child custody lawyer in New Orleans
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many child custody matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your New Orleans consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most child custody matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Child Custody attorney in New Orleans
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about child custody lawyers in New Orleans
Does Louisiana favor mothers in custody?
No. Louisiana law is gender-neutral and decides custody on the child's best interest. Fathers and mothers start on equal footing, and the court looks at each parent's involvement, stability, and ability to meet the child's needs.
What is the difference between legal and physical custody?
Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about the child - schooling, health care, religion. Physical custody is where the child lives and the parenting-time schedule. Louisiana often awards joint legal custody while the physical schedule varies by case.
At what age can a child choose which parent to live with?
There is no fixed age in Louisiana. The court may consider the reasonable preference of a child mature enough to express one, with more weight as the child gets older, but the child's wish is one factor among many - not the deciding vote.
What is a parenting plan?
It is the written agreement or order that sets out legal and physical custody, the parenting-time schedule, holidays, and how decisions and disputes are handled. A clear parenting plan prevents conflict later.
Can a custody order be changed later?
Yes. If circumstances change materially, a parent can ask the court to modify custody, the schedule, or support. The standard for changing a considered decree is higher, so talk to a lawyer about what applies to you.
How is child support decided?
Louisiana uses guidelines based on both parents' incomes and the amount of time the child spends with each. Support is calculated separately from custody but is affected by the parenting schedule.
Do we have to go to court?
Not always. Many custody cases settle through negotiation or mediation, resulting in an agreed parenting plan the judge approves. Court is for the disputes that cannot be resolved by agreement.
What should I bring to a consultation?
Any existing custody or support orders, a proposed schedule, a summary of each parent's involvement, and notes on any safety or stability concerns. The more organized you are, the more useful the first meeting.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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