Paternity Cases in Spring, TX

Many people are under the mistaken belief that the law gives mothers more rights than fathers in Texas. However, that is no longer the case. The new standard for determining rights to children is “Best Interest of the child.” Under this standard in Texas, a father has the same rights as a child’s mother. This includes the right to be party of any court case involving theparent-child relationship. The Spring, TX Family Law Attorney’s at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC are here to answer your questions regarding paternity. We will walk you through the process of establishing or disproving your status as a father.

Spring, TX Paternity Attorneys

The attorneys at Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC are focused on helping families facing case involving family law matters. If you are a potential father and have questions regarding paternity in Spring, Texas, Houston or the surrounding metropolitan area, including Harris, Fort Bend, Waller, Grimes, Washington, and Montgomery counties, contact a Spring, Texas family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC and schedule a meeting to discuss the details of your case.

Paternity Information Center

A few paternity issues relating to child support cases in Texas include:

1. Presumption of Paternity
2. Challenging a Presumption of Paternity
3. Disproving Paternity
4. Paternity by Estoppel

Presumption of Paternity

A is presumed to be a child’s father if he meets one of following tests:

1. 1. If the child was born during, or within 300 days after, marriage
2. If the man marries, or volunteers to marry, the child’s mother after the child is born AND
   • He asserts paternity in a record filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics or
   • He is named as the baby’s father on the birth certificate or
   • He promises in a record to support the child as his own.
3. The man lives with the child for the first two years after birth, and tells others it is his.

Challenging a Presumption of Paternity

Under most circumstances a suit to challenge the presumption of paternity must be brought within 4 years of the child’s birth. Suits Challenging Paternity are usually brought by a presumed father, if he believes he is not the child’s father.

However, I have case in which women sometimes bring these suits, to prove an ex-boyfriend or husband was not their child’s father. There are cases in which another man might may also wish to bring suit if he believes that he (and not the presumed father) is the child’s father.

Having the legal backing of one Texas child support lawyer at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC can help you put forth the evidence that will challenge the presumption of your paternity. The details involved can be very subjective, so having experienced legal counsel can make the difference.

Disproving Paternity

The paternity of a child with a presumed father may only be disproved in two ways:

1. Genetic testing
2. Acknowledgment of paternity by another man

If another man is acknowledging paternity, he must do so in writing, and the presumed father must also deny paternity in writing.

Paternity by Estoppel

In certain circumstances, the court may deny a request for genetic testing, and adjudicate the presumed father to be the child’s father. This is called “paternity by estoppel.” Paternity by estoppel only when there is a presumed father.

Paternity by estoppel usually applies in situations where the presumed father has known the child may not be his, but has continued to live with the mother, and has represented to many people that the child is his. Then when the relationship with the mother seeks to deny his paternity.

However, I have had cases where a husband and wife divorce and then the mother tries to assert the father has no right to the child because he is not the biological father but the presumed father wanted to assert paternity by estoppel because of the bond they had for the child. Presumption by estoppel is a legal principal that can cut both ways.
Factors the court looks to in deciding whether to apply the paternity by estoppel doctrine include:

1. The length of time between when the man realized he may not be the child’s father, and the day the paternity action is filed
2. The length of time the man has assumed the role of father of the child
3. The way that the man discovered he might not be the father
4. The age of the child
5. The relationship between the man and the child
6. Any harm that might come to the child if the court finds the man is not the child’s father

The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC- Family law attorneys for southeast Texas families

Across southeast Texas, the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC seeks to help people find solutions to their family law problems. To learn more about our office and to ask any questions you have in the field of family law please do not hesitate to contact our office. A free of charge consultation with an experienced family law attorney is available six days a week.

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Other Articles you may be interested in:

1. Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights in Texas
2. Relinquishment and Termination of Parental Rights in Texas
3. Terminating Parental Rights in Texas on the Absent Parent
4. Voluntarily Relinquishing Your Parental Rights in Texas
5. What rights does a father have in Texas?
6. Fathers’ Rights: Children Born Out of Wedlock in Texas?
7. Mom Versus Dad Who Gets the rights? – Custodial Rights Vs. Non-Custodial Rights in Texas
8. Husband Not the Father, what do I do in a Texas Divorce?
9. I am not the biological father but I want to be – Paternity by Estoppel?
10. What do I do if I have overpaid child support in Texas?

Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Spring Divorce Lawyers

The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding divorce, it’s important to speak with one of our Spring, TX Divorce Lawyers right away to protect your rights.

Our divorce lawyers in Spring TX are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC handles Divorce cases in Spring, Texas, Cypress, Spring, Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County,Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County and Waller County.