Angleton Family Law Attorneys – Best Paternity Lawyers Angleton
While the law naturally establishes the rights of the mother, confirming the legal identity of the father when the mother is unmarried can pose challenges.
Courts may establish paternity of a woman’s husband as the presumed father, but establishing paternity outside of marriage could require additional steps.
If you seek to establish paternity in or around Angleton, TX, turn to the experienced paternity law team at Kersh Law, The City Angleton. With over 30 years of combined experience in family law, we can help establish paternity and ensure children benefit from the involvement and support of their fathers in their lives.
A putative (alleged or claimed) father may seek to establish he is the biological father of a child for various reasons, including:
The state presumes the husband as the biological father when a married woman gives birth to a child. However, if the father is not married to the mother, there are two options:
The statute of limitations to file for paternity of a child in Texas is until the child turns 22 years old.
You can establish paternity through a DNA test. If you prefer not to consent to a DNA test, other options include presenting travel records, phone and text logs, and witness testimony. A paternity attorney from our firm can assist in disputing a mother’s claims for child support.
Child Support and Paternity in Texas
Establishing paternity is crucial to secure child support if the mother does not wish to maintain a relationship or reside in the same home. Legal paternity must be recognized before the mother can request child support.
If a man marries the mother within 300 days of the child’s birth, the state presumes paternity. The state also presumes the man contributes to household and child-raising expenses if he resides with the mother and his presumptive child.
If paternity is established and the father does not marry or reside with the mother, she could pursue child support. Contact our paternity lawyers to discuss options for your paternity or child support case.
Distinguishing Between a Legal Father and a Biological Father in Texas
The biological father and legal father may not always be the same person. Biological father contributes the sperm to conceive the child, while the legal father is either the presumptive father by marriage or the established father by adoption or written agreement.
Instances where the two could differ may involve fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF), pregnancy during separation or divorce, or infidelity. If these factors apply to your case, discuss the implications with a paternity lawyer. We welcome your call.
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