Houston Paternity Attorneys
Have Our Experienced Family Law Firm On Your Side
Paternity is instantly established if the parents are married to each other
when the child is born, with the husband as the legal father. However
in Texas, if the parents of a child are not married to each other when
the child is born, then the child doesn’t have a legal father until
paternity is determined. A benefit of establishing paternity enables a
child to access medical insurance, Social Security, inheritance, etc.
Other benefits include the mother being able to share responsibilities
and the cost of raising a child, while the father can participate in the
child’s life.
At the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny, we are prepared to fight for the
parenting rights of both father and mothers in Houston and throughout
the neighboring cities of Texas.
With over 30 years of experience in
family law on your side, we are capable of efficiently pursuing the desires of our
clients and the best interests of their children.
How Do You Establish Paternity?
The two ways to establish paternity is either voluntarily or involuntarily.
When the mother and father agree that the father is indeed the biological
father, then the paternity is established voluntarily, require both parties
to sign an “Acknowledgement of Paternity.” This is typically
done at the hospital where and when the child is born, or it can be signed
later and mailed to the Vital Statistics Unit. If the Acknowledgement
of Paternity is signed after the hospital mailed the birth certificate,
a fee will be applied for changing the birth certificate to include the
father’s name. Besides the hospital, the form can be obtained at
the local birth registrar, Vital Statistics Unit, and the
Attorney General’s Child Support Office.
Involuntary establishment occurs when someone disputes paternity, which
means the court will be involved by issuing an “order adjudicating
parentage.” All parties must file a “Petition to Adjudicate
Parentage” in the county where the child resides. If both parties
agree that the father is the biological father, an order adjudicating
parentage will be processed. If either party denies or is uncertain of
paternity, then DNA testing is administered.
Let Our Houston Family Law Attorney Help You!
Take the initial step toward establishing your rights and contact our Houston
family law lawyers, so that we can give your children the benefits needed
to help them in life. On our first, initial consultation together, we
will discuss your situation and determine your rights in order to seek
the outcome you want.
Contact us today for an initial
consultation.