Establishing paternity is crucial for Texas fathers wanting to assert their legal rights and form a relationship with their child.
Texas provides you with various ways to establish paternity. You can sign an acknowledgement of paternity at the hospital or file a paternity petition and request DNA testing if your paternity is challenged.
Although paternity sets up your legal rights, you must take certain steps after establishing paternity to protect those rights. Paternity is more than your name on a birth certificate or in a court order.
Your rights as a legal father
Once paternity is established, you have specific rights. These include the right to legal and physical custody. Legal custody allows you to have a say in major decisions made on behalf of your child, such as decisions on education, religion and healthcare. Physical custody allows you to spend time with your child.
When you and the child’s mother may agree on a parenting plan, it is best to file the plan with the court. This prevents future misunderstandings or disagreements about your plan.
If you do not have an agreed-upon parenting plan, consider filing a custody petition with the court. Remember that as the child’s legal father, you have a right to some type of custody.
You also have a right to official records for your child, such as medical and school records. Contact your child’s medical providers and schools and to ensure they have your contact information.
Child support obligations
If you do not have primary physical custody, you may also need to pay child support, depending on the circumstances. You can prepare yourself for this process by learning about the child support process and gathering financial documents such as pay stubs, tax returns and any other form of income.
Establishing paternity and taking these steps shows your dedication to forming and nurturing a bond with your child. Since you may be navigating unfamiliar territory, it is best to have guidance through the process.