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FATHER'S RIGHTS IN TEXAS
Facts:
One out of every three children born in
Texas involve parents who are not married. A child born in Texas to a
man and woman who are not married has no legal father. This means
that the father has NO legal rights to the child. There are two
ways that a father can establish his rights to his child. The
first is for the parents to file an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP)
with the Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics. The
second is to file a Suit to Establish Paternity with the Courts.
Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP)
If the father is at the hospital at the time the child is born, the
hospital will require both parents to sign an AOP before they will allow
the father's name to be listed on the birth certificate. The
hospital is required to file the AOP with the Texas Bureau of Vital
Statistics. This document establishes that the man listed on AOP
is the legal father of the child, but does not grant the father any
special access to the child, nor does it establish any child support for
the mother.
Suit to Establish Paternity
A man who has not filed an AOP can file a paternity lawsuit which
requests the Court to establish that he is in fact the father of the
child. The Courts will usually require a DNA test to prove the man is
the biological father. After the DNA test shows that the man is
the biological father, the man may then request the following:
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1. |
Access to
your Child |
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2. |
A Court
Ordered Visitation and Possession schedule with your child or
Request Primary Custody. |
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3. |
An amendment
to the birth certificate to change the child's last name to the
father's last name. |
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4. |
Joint and
Shared Managing Conservatorship rights to the child.
Access to Educational and School Records, Access to Medical
Records, Doctors, Psychologists. The Right to direct the
moral and religious training of the child, and more. See
Conservatorship. |
Truth and Challenges
Unmarried fathers have an uphill fight to gain access to their children.
Our office is often asked about access to the children and asked to help
establish a father's rights. It is not uncommon for the mother to refuse
to allow access to the child after the parents have separated.
Even if the parents have been together for a long period
 of
time, the father does NOT automatically have any right to possession of
the children. The police will NOT help you get visitation or
possession of your children. The Texas Attorney General's office
is only interested in getting the father to pay child support, and will
NOT enforce the father's access or visitation with the children.
Fathers can only gain access to their children after paternity has been
established. The ONLY route for a father to insure continuing
access and possession to the child is through the Courts. Len
Conner and Associates routinely files paternity suits to establish a
father's rights, access, and visitation with his children. You CAN
win primary custody of your child. We can help! Call us NOW
to explain how!
Court Ordered Visitation and Possession
As a father, you have the absolute right under Texas Law to either
Standard Visitation,
or
Expanded Standard Visitation.
You also have the right to request Primary Custody of your child.
But, visitation, possession, and custody only come after you have
applied for a Court Order. Call us to explain how we can help you
insure ALL of your rights as a father and help you get Court Ordered
Possession of your child.
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For a
free confidential consultation
to discuss your legal matter with an experienced Texas Family
Law and Paternity Lawyer, please call us at
(972) 445-1500
if you're in the Dallas Area or Toll free at
1 (877) 613-5800. |
Do Not Wait to Establish Your Rights
Whether you are
a father or you are about to be a father you have certain legal rights and
obligations towards your child. However, waiting to establish these rights will
only make it more difficult to gain access to the children. The sooner you
act, the easier it is for the Court to issue a Court Order insuring your
time with the children. If you delay, the Texas Attorney General's office
will likely file a lawsuit against you and request up to FOUR YEARS of
retroactive or back child support with minimal visitation.
Call us Today! 972-445-1500.
Contact and Experienced
Dallas Family Attorney
If you're interested in meeting with
us regarding your impending paternity or child custody case please call
us at
972-445-1500
to schedule a free and private consultation.
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For a
free confidential consultation
to discuss your legal matter with an experienced Texas Family
Law and Paternity Lawyer, please call us at
(972) 445-1500
if you're in the Dallas Area or Toll free at
1 (877) 613-5800.
BE PREPARED - CALL NOW! |
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Cities we Serve:
Dallas County | Tarrant County | Denton County | Collin County
Irving | Dallas | Cedar Hill | Mesquite | Garland | Grand
Prairie | Las Colinas Richardson Plano | Highland Park |
Arlington | Hurst | Euless | Bedford Southlake | Grapevine
Colleyville | Lewisville | Denton | The Colony
Flower Mound | Corinth | Argyle | Coppell | Fort Worth
Frisco | Sachse |McKinney | Park Cities | Duncanville | Desoto |
We hope the information provided here is helpful. Please call our
office with any questions you may have. Unless otherwise indicated,
attorneys listed in this site are not certified by the Texas Board of
Legal Specialization. This web site is designed for general
information only. The information at this site should not be
construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client
relationship.
FULLY
LICENSED BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT
Admitted to the US Federal Courts, Northern District of TX
Member of the Texas Family Law
Section of the Texas State Bar Association
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