Paternity

Paternity Matters in Texas

Texas has laws governing establishing parent-child relationships. There are a lot of nuances when it comes to the specific facts of your case, but generally speaking, the law sets out how to establish your paternity (or maternity).

In paternity cases, the parent-child relationship is established by an unrebutted presumption (think legal assumption court’s get to make based on specific factors) of a man’s paternity, an acknowledgment of paternity that has not been rescinded or successfully challenged, an adoption of the child by that man, a man consenting to assisted reproduction by his wife resulting in the birth of a child, or an adjudication that the man is that child’s parent.

For maternity cases, the Texas Family Code sets out that the mother-child relationship is established by a woman giving birth to a child, a woman adopting a child, or an adjudication of the child’s maternity.

You will likely need a court order to establish a parent-child relationship, have the ability to make decisions for your child, and get a possession and access schedule with your child which can vary depending on the child’s age– there are set timeframes for filing cases involving parentage of a child and presumptions that could apply to your case.

A trusted attorney can provide the guidance you need as your family structure changes and so you can focus on what is important in life – your child’s best interest. At the law office of Seidel Tabakman Family Law, we help clients understand their rights as parents and advocate for those rights.

To learn more , email us or call us at 214-528-3344.