Offering Practical Advice And Effective Advocacy

Paternity Issues

Practical Advice And Advocacy In Paternity Cases

Do you need a court order to specify your rights to your child? Have you and the other parent been in agreement with no orders, but now they have changed their mind and cut you out of your child’s life?

Are you concerned one parent may take the child and not tell you where they are or move to another city, state, or even another country?

Have you and the other parent been in agreement with possession and access to your child, and then they get mad at you and deny you access to your child?

Do you need a court order for child support or medical support for your child?

The Importance Of Paternity Decisions

Whether you are the custodial parent or not, you need court orders in place to protect your rights to your child. Texas law makes a distinction between the “presumed father” of a child (who was married or lived with the mother during the time immediately before the child was born) and the “legal father” (also called the “adjudicated father”), who is recognized by a court as the child’s father.

This definition is especially critical if you were not married when your child was born or you did not get married shortly thereafter. There could be a question about the “legal” paternity of the child. This issue becomes ESPECIALLY important if the mother was married to someone else at the time of birth. That person could be recognized as the legal father of your biological child.

I can guide you through the process of establishing the paternity of the child, establishing legal rights in regards to possession or access, and/or setting up child support. I can even discuss your rights regarding the child having your last name and having your name put on the birth certificate.

* KEEP IN MIND: Without court orders, you may have NO rights at all to your child. The sooner you file papers in court to protect your rights as a parent, whether it is for child support, medical support or visitation, the better you AND your child are.

* DO NOT DELAY THIS VERY IMPORTANT STEP IN PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AND GETTING A COURT ORDER THAT IS ENFORCEABLE IN COURT IF NOT FOLLOWED!