There are many reasons why a person may want to establish paternity. For example, a non-custodial father may seek visitation rights, or a birth mother may wish to receive child support to help cover the costs of raising the child. In many scenarios, establishing paternity can have a big impact on a family law case.
If you or a member of your family are involved in a paternity determination case, a dedicated lawyer like Ben Carrasco could provide personalized representation and advocate for your rights. To learn more about your options for establishing a child’s father, get in touch with a skilled paternity lawyer today.
Establishing Paternity in Texas
There are several ways to establish a child’s father in Texas. The most common way is for the father to sign his name on the child’s birth certificate at the time of birth.
If a father does not sign their child’s birth certificate at this point, they may file a Notice of Intent with the Texas Department of State Health Services to have their name added to the registry. In cases where the child’s mother denies the request, the prospective father may need to appear in court to establish paternity.
If a person is not the biological father, they will need to establish paternity through marriage and, subsequently, through legal guardianship. In these scenarios, it is crucial to have experienced legal representation. Texas residents who wish to establish paternity should speak with a knowledgeable attorney to learn more about the process and legal requirements.
Statuses of Fathers in Texas
Under the Texas Uniform Parentage Act, codified in Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 160 of the Texas Family Code, the status of a child’s father status may be considered presumed, adjudicated, or acknowledged.
Presumed
A man is regarded as the presumed father of a child if he was married to the child’s mother at the time of birth or conception, or if they satisfy any of the elements provided under Tex. Fam. Code § 160.204.
Adjudicated
An adjudicated father is the father of a child as determined by a court of law, by Tex. Fam. Code § 160.631. In such cases, paternity is established by a positive blood test or a father’s failure to appear in court, as provided under Tex. Fam. Code § 160.634.
Acknowledged
Lastly, an acknowledged father is a man who has signed an Acknowledgement of Paternity along with the child’s mother. This states the signed party is to be acknowledged as the child’s father.
Contact Our Trusted Austin Paternity Lawyer
Establishing paternity can help both birth mothers and non-custodial fathers to exercise their legal rights concerning their children. However, it can be difficult to effectively pursue those rights without assistance from a paternity lawyer.
If you are planning to bring a case to establish paternity, doing so without sufficient legal representation could be ill-advised. Call our law firm today to schedule a complimentary case evaluation. Our legal team has vast experience handling these matters, and we are ready to advocate for you and your family.