Dallas Paternity Lawyers

Guiding Parents in Establishing Paternity Across Rockwall and Texas

When a child is born to parents who are not married, an official Acknowledgement of Paternity may be signed by the child’s mother and the man claiming to be the child’s father to establish paternity. Without established paternity rights, the father of the child is without the legal authority to exercise his rights as a father, such as having a say in the child’s medical care and visitation rights. Additionally, until paternity is established, a mother may not be able to obtain support for the child from the man she believes is the father of the child.

Steps to Establish Paternity in Texas

Paternity can be established voluntarily so long as both the mother and the father agree on who the parent is. However, if two parties cannot agree as to who is the father of a child, then paternity can be established with a court order for genetic testing.

When a mother or a father wants to establish paternity in Texas and one party is resisting, a “Petition to Adjudicate Parentage” is filed. The alleged father will then appear in court and either the alleged father of the mother will make their case for paternity.

If either party disputes the biological parentage of a child, the court will order a DNA test. Some paternity situations, however, can be more complicated such as when the wrong individual has been adjudicated to be the father of a child. If you have been wrongly adjudicated to be the father of a child or if you are denying that you are the biological father of a child, you need an experienced attorney to help you with the legal issues pertaining to genetic testing, child support, and visitation matters.

Looking to establish paternity in Texas? Schedule a consultation with our Dallas paternity lawyer today by calling (469) 299-5944 today.

Understanding the Presumed Father in Paternity Matters

In Texas, a man is presumed to be the father of a child if:

• He was married to the mother at the time of birth
• He was married to the mother in the 300 days before the child’s birth
• He was married to the mother after the birth and voluntarily claimed paternity
• He lived with the child for the first two years of his or her life and acted as a father figure

Whether you want to establish paternity in Texas or prevent an involuntary paternity order, the family law attorneys at The Branch Law Firm in Dallas can help. We have over 30 years of combined experience in the legal field.

Time Limits for Filing a Paternity Claim in Texas

A paternity suit may be brought up at any time, even if the child becomes an adult, but there is an exception. If the male is presumed to be the biological father, then the suit must be brought up within a minimum of four years.

Benefits of Establishing Paternity Legally

When paternity is legally established, the father’s name will be added to the child’s birth certificate. Additionally, the father will now have legal rights over the child, such as visitation rights. They will also be obligated to pay child support in most cases.

Call our paternity lawyers in Dallas today at (469) 299-5944 or contact us online to learn more about paternity law in Texas.