Category Archives: Paternity
The Four Types of Fatherhood Under Texas Law, and a Father’s Responsibilities After Divorce
The birth of a baby can be the happiest event of your life but it also establishes a host of legal responsibilities for both parents. While identifying the biological mother is typically straightforward, ascertaining fatherhood in Texas can be somewhat confusing. As an experienced Houston divorce lawyer, I often help mothers make sure their children… Read More »
Can Presumed Fathers Pursue Custody Rights in Texas Divorce?
Divorce may end your relationship with your wife but it does not break the bond between you and your children. Unfortunately, I have seen divorce cases where my clients learn for the first time they are not the biological fathers of the children they love. The good news is that Texas law does not necessarily… Read More »
DIY Paternity Tests
Early in the 20th century, scientists developed a blood-typing method to help establish biological paternity, but the results were limited. The development of genetic testing made paternity testing more accurate, but before 1980, DNA analysis was still only 80 percent accurate. Current DNA tests have an almost perfect ability to determine a familial link, and… Read More »
Paternity Tests: When Do You Need One?
A showing of paternity establishes the identity of the father of a child and gives the child and father certain legal rights. In Texas, the father of a child has no rights or responsibilities with regard to a child unless there is an establishment of paternity. Mothers are presumed to be mothers at birth. But… Read More »
Paternity Complexities
Dealing with paternity can involve complicated issues which add to the difficulty of understanding your legal rights. Who the father is in the eyes of the law may seem unclear. Some examples of paternity complications include: The mother is married to someone other than the biological father before the child is born Within 300 days… Read More »
What Is an Acknowledgement Of Paternity?
In recent years, increasing numbers of unmarried couples have had children together. Consequently, paternity has become an issue, especially in relation to child custody and support matters. Texas has passed a number of laws to clarify and help resolve paternity issues. An Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) has the purpose of legally establishing parentage and is… Read More »