Child paternity issues can be sensitive if you're an unmarried parent or if you weren't married to the other parent when your child was born. If you’re facing paternity issues, it’s essential to retain the support of an experienced attorney. As a Decatur paternity lawyer, I have extensive knowledge of paternity law and can help you through the process.
Paternity cases can be difficult for everyone involved, including the mother, father, and children. I have been practicing family law in Texas for many years and have extensive knowledge of the state's paternity laws. I believe in clear communication, and I do everything I can to protect your rights. The well-being of the child or children will always be the most important thing to me as I work to achieve the greatest possible result for you and your family.
In Texas, a man is considered the real father of a child in some instances. At these times, he must support the child financially. This process does not give parents rights like access or custody by itself. When a biological father in Georgia is unmarried and wants to become a legal parent, he has to file a petition. This gives him parenting rights like the right to visitation or custody.
In Texas, there are two main ways to establish paternity: agreeing to be the father on your own or getting a court order. A voluntary recognition form also exists. Both parents can sign it, agreeing on the child's established father.
Parents are usually given this form at the hospital when their child is born. It officially names the father on the child's birth certificate. If the form wasn't filled out at the hospital, it can be signed and sent to the State Office of Vital Records later.
When paternity is established, the father is officially responsible for paying for the child's upbringing. However, he can also gain parental rights if he marries the mother of the child.
If there is a disagreement about who the father is or if a father or mother wants to prove legal paternity, they may need a court order. Either parent can file a paternity claim, which can also be filed by a family member who has custody of the child or children. Proof of paternity is usually determined by DNA tests.
In Texas, there is an alleged father, a biological father, and a legal father. Each term has a different meaning.
The alleged father is a man who might be the child's biological father but hasn't been proven to be so by the law. Unless they take steps to prove paternity, people who say they are fathers have no family rights or duties. A man who is said to be the father can become the formal father of a child if he marries the mother and claims the child as his own.
A biological father is the child's “real” father. According to the law, a child's biological father must financially support the child. However, he does not automatically have parental rights like custody or visits unless he establishes legal paternity.
A man is a legal father if the state recognizes him as having full parenting rights and duties toward the child. Legal fathers have the right to ask for custody, visitation, or other ways to be involved as parents. Once a man is proven to be the father, he is required to support the child financially.
When a child is born or conceived, the man who is married to the mother is thought to be the child's legal and real father. If the parents were not married, the biological father would have to go to court to prove he is the father and might also have to go through a different process called legitimation. This gives the father full parental rights to the child.
A man may want to fight a claim of paternity if the mother is asking for child support. You can ask for a DNA test to prove you are not the biological father of a child. If the test shows that you are not the father, you will not have to pay for the child's upbringing.
You are also allowed to question paternity even if you made a voluntary acknowledgment beforehand. If, after making a paternity acknowledgment, you find out that you are not the biological father, you have a certain number of days to file a petition to delete the acknowledgment.
In Texas, DNA testing is an important part of determining the father's identity. When paternity is questioned or unclear, the court orders DNA testing, which requires samples from the mother, the child, and the supposed father.
If you don't want to take a paternity test that the court has ordered, the judge may consider you to be the real father. People who don't follow a court order can also be fined or sent to jail for contempt of court.
Decatur lawyers can help you prove paternity and argue against paternity claims. They can also help you obtain or protect your parental rights. As an experienced family lawyer, I can help you with any paternity issue you face.
At The Law Firm of William A. Walsh, my job is to help clients understand Texas' paternity laws. I can learn your goals, and together, we can devise a plan that meets your child’s best interests.
Resolving paternity questions can change your life, as well as the lives of the child and the child's mother. If you need help with a paternity problem in Decatur or a nearby city, please contact me right away to get started. Whether you’re seeking parental rights or believe you’re not the true father, I can assist you.
