Justia Lawyer Rating
Justia Lawyer Rating
National Bar Association
Fort Bend County Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
HLA
United States District Court of Southern Texas
Texas Supreme Court
Avvo Reviews Badge
Texas Bar College
Expertise Best Divorce Lawyers in Houston

Paternity: Everything You Need to Know

Paternity is the quality or state of having a father. A man who fathers children is called a parent. Fathers get paternity leave when they take time off work to be with their children. When a father loses custody of his children he gets paternity rights.

Paternity is legal fatherhood. A man who is legally recognized as being the father of a child has a legal responsibility to provide financial support for the child. Self-help guides and articles can help you establish paternity.

Unmarried fathers do not have legal rights to their children until paternity is established. Paternity is the first step in the child support process, and it benefits the child, the father, and the entire family.

Paternity is the legal establishment of the father-child relationship. Legal effects include responsibility for child support. Other effects include the right of a father to refuse consent to adoptions. A father who claims paternity can also claim custody and visitation rights. Paternity is important for both parents. A mother can get money from the state by claiming the father is the father. This means she gets money for the baby. She also gets the money if the father doesn't pay child support. The father can claim he isn't the father and deny being the father. He can even sue the mother for fraud. But the mother can also sue him for fraud because he lied about being the father.

Paternity can be established either by voluntary acknowledgment or involuntary legal action. A child born to married couples is presumed to be the husband's unless he acknowledges paternity. Unmarried fathers who sign acknowledgments can be required to pay child support. Men unwilling to acknowledge paternity can be forced to do so via legal action. Blood tests can prove paternity.

Parentage is very important for children. Children get emotional benefits from knowing who both of their parents are. Legally, establishing parentage entitles children to the same rights and responsibilities as children of married parents. Parents should always provide insurance for their children. Health insurance is very important because, without it, parents may go bankrupt or lose their jobs, and may even die. Social Security provides financial assistance to disabled people who are unable to work. Veterans' benefits help disabled veterans get medical care and disability payments. Pregnancy and birth expenses include prenatal care, delivery costs, and postnatal care. Child support helps parents financially after the baby is born. Parenting is more than just providing for your children financially. Establishing parentage is important because it allows you to receive child support payments and health insurance later on when you're in a better financial position.

Legal fatherhood gives the father many privileges, but also many responsibilities. He must take care of his children when he gets them, even if they are adopted by others. He must support his children financially and emotionally. When the children grow up, they may want to see him as their father.

Paternity is determined by a court. A judge determines if there is enough evidence to determine paternity. Once paternity is established, the man is referred to by the child as "the alleged father." The party who files an action must be served. In court cases, both parents must appear for the hearing as scheduled. If they agree to legal paternity prior to the hearing, they can sign a consent form that is adopted by the judge as to the final order. If the alleged father shows up, he can challenge the court ruling if he feels that he didn't receive proper notice of the case. The court may order genetic testing. Parents may be ordered to pay court costs. Paternity can be determined without going to court. This process is called administrative paternity determination. In this case, the mother, the man thought to be the father, the child, and the child(ren) must provide genetic samples that get tested. If the test result proves that the man thought to be the father is the biological father.

Paternity is a very important issue for both men and women. There are many reasons why paternity suits happen. Some people want to know who the father is because they think he should pay more child support than he actually does. Others want to know the identity of the father because they feel that he might be abusive or neglectful towards them. Still, others want to know who the real father is because they believe that he is the rightful heir to some property.

A paternity lawyer in Harris County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Texas at Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, can help you sort out these issues by helping you understand what you're entitled to, what you're obligated to do, and what you can expect to receive in return for your efforts.

The presumed father is a married man who is legally accepted to be the child's father. He is presumed to be the father because he is married to the child's mom. The acknowledged father is an unmarried man who has self-confessed to be the child's dad. He is acknowledged as the father because he has acted as if the kid is his. Unwed Father is an unmarried man (father) who begets a child (son or daughter) with a woman. Stepfather is a man who married a woman who already had children with another man. Each of these fathers has obligations according to law, meaning you need a paternity lawyer (paternity attorney) to advise you accordingly based on where you fall in these categories.

A paternity attorney will help you secure visitation rights with the help of a paternity lawyer, you'll not only establish paternity, but you will also have visitation rights. Children will also benefit significantly from development. He will have access to your health records and health benefits. Most importantly, the child will also benefit from the knowledge that he has eventually known his biological father. A paternity attorney is needed to help you when challenging paternity. There are many things that need to be done, including affidavits, forms, legal advice, etc. An experienced attorney can help you get the result you want. Unmarried couples should be careful when deciding who is the father of their child. In most cases, the man who impregnated the woman is usually the father. However, if there is doubt, DNA tests can be done to prove who is the real father. There are many other factors that can affect the outcome of a case, such as whether the couple was married or not. A paternity lawyer can help you determine your rights and responsibilities regarding the child. Contact us today at www.thorntonesquirelawgroup.com for a free consultation.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Selecting an attorney can be one of the most difficult decisions a person has to make. In what seems like an overwhelming sea of attorneys who do you choose? Are they qualified, compassionate, and are they willing to fight for you without compromising their integrity? When faced with this decision in 2016 I received this and more when I retained Rahlita Thornton as my attorney. Since 2016 she has represented me on several court cases and I've never been disappointed. She is well versed and very knowledgeable on many aspects of the law. Attorney Thornton and her staff work diligently to ensure no stone is left unturned and justice is served. When I was crippled with fear, bullied, and felt like giving up she was my voice. She is highly recommend and I'm truly blessed to have her in my life. TTW
★★★★★
It was a divine power that drove me to call. There are ton of lawyers online but I knew this attorney was the one for me. C.B., Divorce Client
★★★★★
Attention & communication is very good when working with this professional legal team. They are here to help you whenever questions arise and explain details as they go. Thank you for taking the time to accept my case & working with me. P.L.