Paternity Attorneys in The Woodlands Helping You Establish or Challenge Paternity of a Child

Being a parent is an honor and a joy. The role also comes with significant responsibilities and financial obligations. Things get messy where children are concerned when paternity is in question. Our paternity lawyers help parents legally establish the paternity of a child and assist fathers in contesting the paternity of a child.

We also help coordinate child visitation rights when two people cannot agree on a schedule, among other activities. These include:

• Filing paternity actions
• Upholding parental rights during divorce
• Helping with proper paternity order modifications
• Ensuring fairness in timesharing and parental responsibilities
• Ensuring fairness in child support determinations
• Relieving fathers of child support obligations when paternity is confirmed

Morgan Bourque Attorney at Law, can assist parents with many different paternity-related needs.

What is Paternity?

Paternity is a legal term for fatherhood. It is a label and an identity for dads. Establishing paternity is essential so that a child knows who their father is. Married parents don’t require paternity confirmation, as the dad is presumed as the biological father. If parents aren’t married at the time of conception, paternity ensures the mother and child have certain rights, including child support.

Texas law requires both parents to support their children, which is why paternity is essential. Without paternity confirmation, a child could be denied financial support and other significant benefits, including inheritance, life, and health insurance.

Paternity also affords a father his rights, such as custody. We can help you confirm the paternity of a child or challenge it.

How is Paternity Established?

Texas law does not recognize the biological father as a legal parent when a baby is born to unmarried parents. The mother of the child assumes legal responsibility. A birth father does not have legal rights as a parent, and paternity must be established.

There are three ways to determine paternity:

• Marriage: The husband is acknowledged as the legal father when a couple is married.
• Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP): An unmarried couple can sign a legal form known as an AOP if both agree that the biological father is the dad.
• Court order: Both mother and father that aren’t married can file a court order to name the legal father.

Our attorneys can help you understand your paternity options, especially if you don’t plan on getting married. Children should know who their biological father is.

How Do I Challenge Paternity?

A father can find out their child isn’t theirs when married or unmarried. Paternity is typically contested to challenge a child support order. If you legally acknowledged paternity at the time of your child’s birth to find out the child isn’t yours, you can rescind the legal court order within 60 days.

The Texas Senate Bill 785 allows a father to challenge the parent-child relationship as misleading information surfaces. The Bill applies if you signed a court order without a DNA test confirming paternity.

When paternity is in question, and you’re on the hook for child support and related obligations, a DNA test is a quick way to get the results you’re after. Both mother and father can agree to a DNA test to clear up the matter and relieve you from responsibilities. Our attorneys can help you contest paternity.

Why Do I Need a Paternity Lawyer?

Paternity lawyers protect the rights and responsibilities of parents and help resolve paternity-related disputes and other challenging issues that require a delicate approach. Many different circumstances require our services. For example, unmarried parents might use our services to file a court order to establish the paternity of a child.

In a different scenario, a father might come to us after finding out they are not their child’s father and must legally relinquish financial obligations. We also help reinforce a father’s rights if they have been denied custody or placement of a child they believe to be theirs.

Contact Morgan Bourque Attorney at Law, when you need to settle a sensitive or complex paternity issue. Use your consultation to speak with any of our experienced paternity lawyers: 713-766-3733.