Paternity
Paternity Attorneys in Denton, Collin, & Tarrant Counties
Assisting Clients With Paternity Matters in Texas
Whether you are a parent facing a custody battle over your children or have a paternity dispute relating to child support, our team can be your legal advocate. At Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers, we have more than 110 years of combined experience that we will put to work for you. We offer financing to help with retainer fees. Click here to see your options.
Call Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers today at (940) 293-2313 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our paternity attorney in Denton, Collin, & Tarrant Counties.
How to Determine Paternity in Texas
The first step to protecting your rights and enforcing responsibilities as a father is to establish that the child is actually yours. As all parents are legally responsible for the well-being of their children, once paternity has been established, child support may be required and enforced.
There are many ways to determine paternity, but the following three methods are typically the most common:
- Legally, the man married to a woman at the time of childbirth is considered to be the father of that child
- An unwed man can voluntarily proclaim paternity of the child
- The mother or government can file a petition to have paternity tested
Why Hire A Family Attorney?
We have helped families just like yours through all types of divorce and family law-related matters. Find out how one of our Board-Certified Family Law Specialists can help you.
Establishing Paternity in Texas
In Texas, if you want to establish paternity through a court-ordered DNA test, you typically need to follow a legal process. Here are the general steps involved:
- Determine Eligibility: Before you file a paternity petition, you need to make sure you are eligible to do so. In Texas, this generally means you are the mother, alleged father, or a governmental agency, such as the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
- Gather Information: You will need to gather information about the child, the alleged father, and any relevant documents, such as birth certificates and any existing court orders.
- File a Paternity Petition: To initiate the legal process, you will need to file a paternity petition with the appropriate court. In Texas, this is usually done in a family law or child support court. The petition should include information about the child, the alleged father, and your reasons for seeking paternity testing. You can obtain the necessary forms from the court or the Texas Office of the Attorney General.
- Serve Notice: Once the petition is filed, the court will typically require you to serve notice to the alleged father. This involves delivering copies of the petition and a summons, which informs the alleged father about the legal action and the need for a DNA test. Service can be done by a process server or another approved method, and you will need to provide proof of service to the court.
- Response from Alleged Father: The alleged father will have the opportunity to respond to the paternity petition. They can either admit or deny paternity. If they admit paternity, the court may issue an order based on their admission. If they deny paternity, the case will proceed to the next step.
- Court Hearing: If paternity is disputed, the court will schedule a hearing. At the hearing, both parties can present their evidence and arguments. The court may order genetic testing at this point.
- Genetic Testing: If ordered by the court, genetic testing will be conducted. The alleged father, mother, and child will be required to provide DNA samples. The results of the test will be used to determine paternity.
- Paternity Order: If the genetic test confirms paternity, the court will issue a paternity order, which legally establishes the alleged father as the child's legal parent. This order can also address child support, custody, and visitation issues.
- Compliance and Enforcement: Both parties are obligated to comply with the court order. If the alleged father fails to comply, child support enforcement measures may be taken.
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Shelby is an amazing lawyer! You are in good hands with him. He was very tentative to my wants/needs and got me the justification I was seeking. Thank you!- Lexy C.
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Mr. Pax did an excellent job with my divorce from the consult to final disposition. He made the process easier than I expected, since I was moving during the divorce process. He always had time to answer questions and set appropriate expectations. He and the staff worked around my sometimes odd schedule to get things done. I found everyone I interacted with to be friendly, professional and courteous. I would recommend them to anyone else needing a divorce attorney.- Patricia
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I was more than taken care of by this law firm. My attorney Shelby Hart believed in my case since day one. My situation was far from easy, I was trying to move out of state with my son to start a family with my husband. His father wanted to restrict me to the county I currently lived it. I was turned away by another attorney because she said there was no way I had a chance. But when I called Shelby he was nothing but uplifting, positive, and honest about the risk and chances but was reassuring of my chance and possibilities. He never gave up and found all kinds of ways to make this happen for me. He was always keeping me informed and allowed me to make any and all final decisions. Ashley Leverett, his parallel was always so helpful and on top of everything. She was also very sympathetic with me and gave good advice as well has helped me along the way with getting all my documents together. Even down to billing and payments, Georgia was always pleasant to work with on arranging and making my payments as well as answering any questions I had. Shelby, Ashley, and I won the case and I am completely moved in with my husband, son and newest member on the way! We are so happy and grateful for all the help we got at Coker!- Piper S.
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Ms. Robb reviewed multiple documents of my case before the consultation and analyzed the case reasonably and honestly. She is knowledgeable, sympathetic, and shows strong ethic. She even sent me an email to summarize our consultation before signing the hiring agreement. I am so thankful to her for doing above and beyond. Waiting to see the progress.- Anonymous
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They made my divorce easy even in a difficult situation. I was stressed but they handled everything professionally and fast. I’m so grateful to the team. If you need a simple divorce they are the perfect choice.- Jimmy V.
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First off I must say that this law firm saved me at least six months of a headache and so much money in the end. Tyler Livingston was such a pivotal part in helping me sell my deceased mother's property. We had to probate a will within a three week period and he put in the extra time and effort to ensure the success of our trial. The professionalism, the care and concern, not to mention the wanting to help someone with their family problems. If I ever have another family concern or worry I know the first person I am going to call. I cannot thank him enough for what he has done to help.- Blake E.
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I'm honestly not even sure where to start. I had previously dealt with 4 other attorneys in various matters regarding custody of my son over the last several years which cost me a good deal of money and left me very disillusioned, and then I found Anthony Pax at Coker, Robb, and Cannon. I was in the fight of my life and losing would have meant that my son would be going to live overseas with his mother. Anthony Pax and Holly Keen did an amazing job, and while I dont think I would necessarily use the word "happy" to describe my feelings, and I hope (albeit probably in vain) to never see the inside of a courtroom again, I wouldnt want anyone but Anthony on my side.- Shannon R.
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My legal matters were challenging. The team at Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers was compassionate, they took the time to listen, and helped guide me through the process. I would definitely recommend.- Anne L.
The Benefits of Establishing Paternity
Establishing paternity in Texas offers various benefits for both the child and the parents involved. Here is a list of some of the key advantages:
- Legal Rights and Responsibilities:
- Child's Rights: Once paternity is established, the child gains access to certain legal rights and benefits, including inheritance rights, the right to receive financial support and access to medical and insurance benefits from both parents.
- Parental Rights: The father gains legal rights to custody, visitation, and participation in decisions regarding the child's upbringing.
- Financial Support:
- Child Support: Paternity establishment is a crucial step in ensuring that the child receives financial support from both parents. The non-custodial parent is typically required to provide child support.
- Healthcare Benefits:
- Medical Insurance: The child may become eligible for medical insurance benefits through either or both parents' policies, helping cover medical expenses.
- Access to Medical History: Establishing paternity allows the child to access their complete medical history, which can be important for medical treatments and understanding potential hereditary health issues.
- Inheritance Rights:
- Inheritance Laws: A legally recognized child has the right to inherit from both parents, including property and assets, under Texas inheritance laws.
- Citizenship and Immigration Benefits:
- U.S. Citizenship: If the father is a U.S. citizen, establishing paternity may be a prerequisite for the child to acquire U.S. citizenship.
- Immigration Benefits: Paternity establishment may be necessary for immigration purposes, such as sponsoring the child for a visa or residency.
- Government Assistance Benefits:
- Social Security Benefits: In the event of the father's disability or death, the child may be eligible for Social Security benefits based on the father's work history.
- Veterans Benefits: If the father is a veteran, the child may be eligible for certain veterans' benefits.
- Legal Documentation:
- Birth Certificate Amendment: The child's birth certificate can be updated to include the father's name, providing official proof of paternity.
- Court Orders: Paternity establishment often leads to court orders that detail child support, custody, and visitation arrangements, providing a legal framework for co-parenting.
- Protection Against Child Abandonment:
- Legal Obligation: Establishing paternity can hold the father legally responsible for the child's well-being, reducing the risk of child abandonment.
- Parental Access and Involvement:
- Custody and Visitation: Paternity establishment helps determine custody and visitation arrangements, ensuring that both parents have the opportunity to be involved in the child's life.
- Emotional and Psychological Benefits:
- Emotional Well-being: Knowing both parents and having their support can contribute to a child's emotional and psychological well-being, providing a sense of identity and belonging.
- Relationship Building: It can help build and strengthen the child's relationship with both parents, which is often beneficial for their emotional development.
Why Choose Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers?
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Video Consultations & Meetings Available
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Voted Best Family Law Firm & Best Law Firm in Denton County
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Working Hard to Achieve the Best Results Possible
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Deeply Committed to Listening & Helping You
Fight for Custody of Your Children
The law has come a long way when it comes to considering the rights of both parents, where it once highly favored the mother. As a father, you do have rights to your children that should be protected and upheld when determining custody arrangements. Presently, a judge’s primary concern is the best interests of the child. Typically, in order to deny a father’s custody rights, a mother would have to prove that his behavior, lifestyle, or living situation threatens the emotional, financial, or physical well-being of his child.
Contact Our Paternity Attorney in Denton, Collin, & Tarrant Counties Today
Take the first step toward establishing your rights and give our board-certified Denton, Collin, and Tarrant County family law attorneys a call. We will sit down with you to discuss your options in an initial consultation and help you determine your rights and take legal action to enforce them.
Contact us today. Our paternity lawyers in Denton, Collin, & Tarrant Counties will promptly return all phone calls and offer video consultations for your convenience. Call (940) 293-2313!
