
If you are in a divorce process and aren’t sure where to turn, contact an experienced Ruston divorce attorney from Knight Law Firm today by calling (318) 722 8447 to schedule a consultation.
Divorce is emotionally challenging for families, often bringing feelings of stress, uncertainty, and confusion. In addition to the emotional toll, there are practical issues to address, such as child support, custody arrangements, spousal support, property division, and more. To make matters even more complicated, Louisiana’s divorce laws can be complex and difficult to navigate.
The good news is that you don’t have to face this process alone. If you’re considering or going through a divorce in Ruston, Louisiana, Knight Law Firm is here to guide you every step of the way.
With years of experience handling divorce cases, we are confident in our ability to help you navigate the legal process and achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family. Our team is committed to offering not only expert legal advice but also compassionate support during this challenging time.
Why Choose Knight Law Firm For Help With My Divorce in Ruston?

At Knight Law Firm, our team has over 20 years of combined legal experience and has been serving the Ruston community for almost as long. Our founding attorney, Robert Knight, has successfully handled thousands of cases and has been recognized by numerous clients, attorneys, and the judiciary for his work and high achievement.
We are dedicated to being strategic, assertive, and fully committed to each case from start to finish while also easing your emotional burden throughout the divorce process. When you hire our firm to help you with your divorce case, you can trust that our Ruston family law attorneys will:
- Listen to your story and understand your unique needs
- Explain Louisiana divorce laws in clear, understandable terms
- Keep you informed and involved at every step of the process
- Address all aspects of your divorce, including child custody, spousal support, property division, and more
- Provide compassionate, personalized guidance to ensure your best interests are protected
- Advocate fiercely for a fair and favorable outcome for you and your family
- Negotiate for a favorable and fair outcome on your behalf and on behalf of your family
- Bring your case to trial if an agreement can’t be reached and fight for your rights
We are proud to serve clients across Louisiana, including Monroe, Shreveport, Ruston, and surrounding areas, as well as in Colorado, Montana, and Texas. Our goal is to provide everyone who needs it with access to high-quality legal assistance. Contact our team today to schedule your complimentary consultation with a Ruston family law attorney.
We Handle All Family Law Cases in Ruston
No matter what kind of issues you might be facing in your divorce, we can help. We are experienced in handling all types of family law cases, including:
- Divorce: Navigating a divorce can be overwhelming, but Ruston divorce lawyers are here to guide you through every step of the process. Whether it’s an uncontested divorce or a more complicated contested divorce, we handle paperwork, negotiations, and court representation to help you achieve a fair resolution.
- Child custody: Child custody is often one of the most emotionally charged aspects of divorce. Our Ruston child custody attorneys work to ensure that the custody arrangement prioritizes the best interests of your children while also taking into account your rights as a parent. Whether it’s joint custody, sole custody, or a visitation schedule, we are committed to helping you achieve a fair and sustainable custody agreement that works for your family.
- Child support: Child support is designed to ensure that children are financially provided for after a divorce. Our Ruston child support attorneys assist in calculating child support obligations based on state guidelines and your family’s unique circumstances. Whether you’re seeking child support or need help modifying an existing order, we can help.
- Property division: Dividing marital property can be complex, particularly when assets like real estate, retirement accounts, or business interests are involved. Our Ruston property division attorneys are skilled in negotiating fair property divisions, ensuring that your assets and debts are split in a way that is equitable.
- Prenuptial agreements: Prenuptial agreements can provide peace of mind and protection before entering a marriage. Whether you’re looking to create a prenuptial agreement or need assistance enforcing or modifying an existing one, our Ruston prenuptial agreement lawyers can help.
- Spousal support: Spousal support (also known as alimony) can be an important consideration in a divorce, especially when there’s a significant income disparity between spouses. Our Ruston spousal support attorneys guide clients through the process of determining whether spousal support is appropriate, how much should be paid, and for how long.
No matter what issues come up during your family law case, the team at Knight Law Firm is competent and ready to handle it.
An Overview of Divorce in Louisiana

Louisiana law can be very complicated and can quickly get overwhelming. Luckily, our experienced family law attorney is well-versed in the nuances. Following is an overview of the state’s residency requirements, waiting period, and grounds for divorce in Ruston, Louisiana.
What Are Louisiana’s Residency Requirements for Divorce?

In Louisiana, you can file for divorce if either you or your spouse are “domiciled” in Louisiana at the time of filing. You are considered “domiciled” in the state if you have established and maintained a residence in a Louisiana parish for a period of at least six months. Additionally, you must ensure that you file in the parish you are domiciled in or in the parish where you and your spouse were domiciled together in the marital home.
Is There a Waiting Period for a Divorce?
Whether or not there is a waiting period for a divorce depends on whether the divorce is no-fault or fault-based. A judge can grant a no-fault divorce if you and your spouse have lived “separate and apart continuously for:
- At least 180 days if you and your spouse do not have a child together under 18 years old or
- At least 365 days if you and your spouse do have a child together under 18 years old.
On the other hand, there is no set waiting period for a fault-based divorce.
What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Louisiana?
“Grounds” for divorce are the legally recognized reasons for divorce. Louisiana recognizes no-fault and fault-based divorces. In a no-fault divorce, you and your spouse must only live separately for the requisite amount of time outlined above. For fault-based divorces, you must prove one of the following is true:
- The other spouse has committed adultery.
- The other spouse has committed a felony and has been sentenced to death or imprisonment at hard labor.
- During the marriage, the other spouse physically or sexually abused the spouse seeking divorce or a child of one of the spouses, regardless of whether the other spouse was prosecuted for the act of abuse.
- After a contradictory hearing or consent decree, a protective order or an injunction was issued during the marriage against the other spouse to protect the spouse seeking the divorce or a child of one of the spouses from abuse.
Once you’ve met the required separation period or established grounds for a fault-based divorce, the court can grant your divorce.
How is Property Divided in a Ruston Divorce?

Dividing property can be a complex process in any state, requiring both parties to evaluate their assets and debts carefully. Louisiana is a community property state. This means that during the marriage, both of the spouses have an equal interest in all of their property, except for property considered “separate property.”
In Louisiana property classifications, property owned by a married person is presumed to be community property, subject to select exceptions. “Community property” commonly includes property acquired during the marriage, work wages accumulated during the marriage, and any assets obtained with such funds. In contrast, “separate property” is property that only belongs to one spouse. Examples include property acquired before the marriage, funds saved by a spouse before marriage, or property acquired by a spouse through inheritance or donation.
When a couple gets divorced in Louisiana, the judge will divide their community property equally unless the spouses have decided otherwise. Each spouse will keep their own separate property.
How Does Child Custody Work?

Child custody issues arise frequently during divorces. Obtaining a child custody order can either be done through a judge’s decision or a consent agreement between the spouses. The child’s best interests are always the primary focus in custody decisions, and there are various types of custody arrangements available to suit the unique needs of each family.
Custody Considerations – The Best Interests of the Child
When deciding how to allocate custody, the judge will typically base their decision on the “best interests of the child.” This term requires an analysis of many factors, including:
- The bond of the child with each parent and the amount of love and affection between them
- The capability of each spouse to provide basic necessities, such as food, clothing, school supplies, healthcare, and dental treatments
- The morality of each spouse and how it might affect the welfare of the children
- The mental and physical health of both parents
- The child’s background, including his or her home and school, and the stability of these environments
- The physical, emotional, mental, social, and religious needs of the child and whether one parent meets these needs better than the other
- The child’s reasonable preference
- Each parent’s willingness to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the child and the other parent
- How the child will adjust to the new home and community, and
- The distance between the residences of each spouse.
Child custody decisions in Louisiana are tailored to each case, taking into account the child’s needs and each parent’s ability to meet those needs.
Types of Child Custody
Louisiana recognizes several types of child custody, including:
- Legal custody: Legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions about a child’s upbringing, including decisions related to education, healthcare, religion, and general welfare.
- Physical custody: Physical custody refers to where the child lives and the day-to-day care of the child. It determines the primary residence of the child and how the child’s time is spent between the parents. Physical custody can be awarded to one parent (sole physical custody) or shared between both parents.
- Sole custody: Sole custody means that one parent has both legal and physical custody of the child, and the other parent may have limited or no involvement in decision-making or caregiving. Sole custody is typically awarded in situations where one parent is unable or unwilling to provide for the child’s needs or where there are concerns about the child’s safety or well-being.
- Shared custody: Shared custody in Louisiana refers to an arrangement where both parents share significant physical custody of the child. In this type of custody, the child divides their time fairly equally between both parents, though not necessarily on a 50/50 basis.
- Joint custody: Joint custody in Louisiana means that both parents share legal and/or physical custody of the child. In joint legal custody, both parents have the right to make decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare, and welfare. In joint physical custody, the child spends significant time with both parents, though the time may not be equally divided.
What type or types of custody might be awarded in your case depends on you and your child’s specific situation.
To learn more about how child custody works, including relevant considerations and types of custody, contact Knight Law Firm to schedule a consultation and discuss your questions and concerns.
What Tools Are Available to Help Me Navigate My Ruston Divorce?

Even the most straightforward divorce can be highly emotional and difficult to navigate. Luckily for you, you are far from the first person in Louisiana to experience a divorce. This means that there is a wealth of resources at your disposal to help you through this confusing process.
Mediation
Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral third party (known as a mediator) helps the parties (in this case, you and your spouse) find a solution to your dispute. In family law cases, mediation is often used to address issues such as divorce, child custody, child support, and property division.
For example, if you and your spouse disagree on child custody issues, the mediator would facilitate a discussion between you both, exploring your concerns, desired outcomes, and any underlying factors contributing to the conflict. The mediator would then work with you to find a mutually agreeable solution that takes everyone’s needs into account.
Additional Tools
There are many valuable tools available for those going through a divorce, and some of the most helpful are online resources and family lawyer consultations. These resources can provide clarity on divorce-related issues, ensure you’re informed about your rights, and guide you through the various legal steps involved.
For example, the Louisiana State Bar Association offers brochures on general divorce topics, as well as more specific issues like community property. Similarly, Womenslaw.org provides valuable resources and overviews tailored to Louisiana divorces, addressing common questions and citing relevant statutes. Additionally, Knight Law Firm’s own website provides resources such as our Divorce and Family Law Blog, our Divorce and Family Law resources page, and various practice area pages with more information about topics such as child custody and spousal support in Ruston.
Perhaps one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get direct, accurate answers to your divorce-related questions is to contact a Ruston divorce lawyer. Most law firms, including Knight Law Firm, offer consultations, so there’s nothing to lose in reaching out.
Contact Our Experienced Ruston Divorce Lawyers For Legal Help

Going through a divorce in Ruston, Louisiana, can be overwhelming, but with the right support, you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Knight Law Firm, we are committed to providing expert legal guidance and compassionate support. Whether you’re dealing with child custody, property division, spousal support, or other issues that can arise during a divorce, our team is here to protect your rights and help you achieve a fair resolution. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with a Ruston divorce lawyer and get the assistance you need.
Additional Resources
- Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services
- Acadiana Legal Services Corporation
- Legal information on divorce processes and rights in Louisiana – Louisiana Law Help
- Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court
Knight Law Firm – Ruston Office
111 Kilgore Rd
Ruston, LA 71201