Paternity Lawyer Advocating for Your Rights and Your Child’s Future
A DNA paternity test establishes the natural and legal father of a child who is born when the parents are not married. Through a paternity action, the court gives the child’s biological father the rights (such as custody and visitation rights) and duties (such as financial support and health care) of a parent.
Experienced, Practical, Responsive Service
At Short Law Firm, PC, I offer many years of focused family law experience and responsive service to my clients. If you have a child outside marriage and need assistance in establishing child support for the child, or an order outlining custody and visitation rights, I can assist you in a paternity action. My clients appreciate my positive, helpful and energetic approach in helping them through a difficult time.
Resolve Conflicts With A Skilled Paternity Attorney
If the parties can come to an agreement regarding the father’s rights and obligations, I can draft a detailed paternity agreement. I will do all I can to ensure the process moves as efficiently as possible. If the parents cannot agree on the issues, I can seek assistance from the court in a paternity court action. As a certified family mediator, I encourage clients first to try negotiation and mediation to resolve the dispute. If the parties cannot come to an agreement, I will go to trial as a last resort. Although I can offer aggressive attorney representation, I remain sensitive to the unique issues that determine how each case is handled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paternity In Texas
Parents often have urgent questions about legal fatherhood, custody rights and child support. The answers below address some of the most common paternity concerns under Texas law.
What are the benefits of establishing paternity?
Establishing paternity creates a legally recognized parent-child relationship, which benefits both the child and the parents. For the child, this may include financial support, access to health insurance, inheritance rights and eligibility for certain benefits through the father.
For fathers, legal paternity creates the right to seek custody, visitation and participation in major decisions involving the child’s education, health care and upbringing. For mothers, it creates a legal basis for pursuing child support and shared parental responsibilities.
How is legal paternity established in Texas?
In Texas, legal paternity is generally established in one of two ways. The first is through an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP), a voluntary legal form signed by both parents. This is often completed at the hospital after birth, but may also be signed later.
If there is a dispute, either parent may ask the court to establish paternity through a formal legal proceeding. In these cases, the court may order DNA testing. Once parentage is confirmed, the court can enter orders involving support, custody and visitation.
How can a presumed father challenge paternity?
A presumed father is often a man recognized as the legal father because he was married to the mother when the child was born. If he believes he is not the biological father, he may challenge paternity by filing a court action.
Because Texas law imposes strict deadlines in some cases, it is important to act quickly. Genetic testing is commonly used to resolve these disputes.
What if one parent refuses to cooperate with DNA testing?
If one parent refuses court-ordered DNA testing, the judge may issue an order requiring compliance. The court may also consider that refusal when deciding the case. In some cases, continued refusal may lead the court to draw negative inferences against the noncooperative parent or proceed based on available evidence, which can directly affect child support, conservatorship and possession orders under Texas family law.
This process helps the court reach an accurate legal determination so that parental rights, visitation and child support can be properly addressed. Getting clarity on paternity early can help protect parental rights and create greater stability for the child moving forward.
The Paternity Help You Need
Fathers are important to all children, for reasons both practical and emotional. If you have questions regarding a paternity test, child support, visitation rights or other parental rights, contact and experienced paternity lawyer through this online form, or else call my office in Plano: 972-813-9959.