Dallas Father’s Rights & Paternity

Knowledgeable Texas Family Law Firm

Paternity Overview

Paternity is defined as the state of being a father.  In family law, paternity is a legal term that refers to the legal and/or biological relationship a man has with a child.  When it comes to numerous family law matters, such as child custody or child support, paternity will play an important role as biological fathers of children will incur certain obligations, responsibilities and parental rights.  Additionally, paternity will impact the child as well when it comes to things like child support, health insurance and eligibility for government issued benefits. 

Paternity is automatically established when a mother and father are married and have a child together or when parents agree to have the father’s name added to the child’s birth certificate.  In cases where paternity was never established by the parents involved, a man may file an Establishment of Paternity Petition.  Once this petition is filed, the man will be asking that the courts to legally establish him as the birth father of the child listed in the petition.  After paternity is established, the man will be allowed to seek child support, child custody and visitation in the near future if he wishes.    

In cases where the paternity of the father is questionable, many parents opt for paternity tests, like DNA tests, to find out who is legally the father of the child in question.   In cases couples are unmarried and have children, the man may leave the relationship, and there will be no presumption of paternity unless the mother chooses to take legal action to prove paternity.  Additionally, men may seek legal action and take paternity tests when they are being asked to pay child support for a child that they are unsure is theirs.

Dallas Paternity & Father’s Rights Legal Advocates

Anytime a father has questions pertaining to paternity, wishes to establish paternity or wants to take a paternity test, it is in his best interests to work with an experienced Dallas father’s rights lawyer, like the lawyers at our Texas law office.

If you would like to speak with an experienced Dallas family lawyer about paternity, contact our law firm to set up an initial consultation.