Sugar Land Paternity Lawyer

Sugar Land Paternity Attorney

Establishing paternity is a critical step toward protecting the rights and responsibilities of parents and their children. Whether there is a need to secure child support, determine custody, or grant access to an individual’s medical information, establishing paternity is a key role in the process. If your family law issue involves a paternity dispute, a Sugar Land paternity lawyer can help you clarify parental relationships while also safeguarding your rights as a parent.

At D Marie Family Law, our skilled family attorney, Donnica Marie Blackful, is fully committed to helping families navigate the sensitivities and legal complexities of establishing paternity. Whether you are a mother seeking financial support or a father who wants to assert his rights as a parent, our firm is standing by, ready to represent you.

From DNA testing to court filings and more, our firm’s goal is to help the process run smoothly while ensuring you and your child’s interests remain a top priority.

How is Paternity Established in Sugar Land, Texas?

To successfully establish paternity in a family law case, one must take several steps. Establishing paternity is essential to securing a child’s right to financial support, inheritance, or access to medical histories.

Here are some of the most common methods used to establish paternity:

Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity

One of the easiest and most common methods to establish paternity is through a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP). This is a legal document that both parents need to sign to confirm the biological father’s identity. It can be completed at the hospital after the child in question is born or later with a certified agency. Once this document has been signed and filed, the AOP has the same legal effects that a court order would have.

Court-Ordered Paternity

If there is uncertainty or disagreement about who the true father is, paternity may need to be established through an official court order. This process typically involves one party filing a petition to establish paternity with the appropriate Texas court. After this, the court will order DNA testing to help determine if there is a biological relationship. If the test comes back positive, the court will issue an order that establishes the petitioner as the legal father.

Paternity by Presumption

The state of Texas recognizes a man as the presumed father of a child if he is married to the child’s mother at the time of birth. This legal presumption helps to simplify the process of establishing paternity. No additional action is required to confirm the father’s status with this presumption in place. However, if the mother wants to dispute paternity, they will need to take more concrete steps to make that happen.

Genetic Testing

DNA testing is a highly reliable method for establishing paternity. This process compares the DNA of the child and mother to the alleged father. This can determine biological percentage with a high degree of accuracy. Undergoing this type of testing can be voluntary or court-ordered, depending on the circumstances of the case. If the test yields a positive result, the courts will recognize the individual as the legal father.

Retroactive Paternity Cases

In some scenarios, paternity will need to be established after the child is older, such as when a father seeks to assert his rights or a mother requests retroactive child support. While the process is similar to cases that involve younger children, the courts may want to take additional factors into account, such as if the father had prior knowledge of the child and how much time has passed.

Challenges in Establishing Paternity

While the methods of establishing paternity can seem straightforward, it’s not uncommon for different challenges to arise during the process. Some fathers might contest paternity due to financial concerns or a misunderstanding, while others may face challenges to prove their parentage if the mother disputes it. If you are in this situation, hiring a qualified Sugar Land Paternity Lawyer can help address these challenges head-on and protect your rights throughout the process.

FAQs About Sugar Land, TX Paternity Laws

Contact D Marie Family Law Today

If you are in the process of seeking paternity, either as a father or mother, contact our firm today. Donnica Marie Blackful can inform you of the exact steps to take to simplify the process and can help you proactively address any issues that might jeopardize your case.