Paternity Lawyer Trusted Board-Certified Family Law Specialist

The Woodlands Paternity Lawyer

Establishing legal paternity is a crucial procedure for many families nowadays. When parents who are not married bear a child, there are additional legal steps to be taken to ascertain parental rights.

This includes the right for the father to be listed on the birth certificate and if separated from their spouse, have child support, custody, and visitation established via a court order.

If you wish to establish fatherhood to protect your parental rights and role in your child’s future, The Woodlands paternity lawyers at Bolton Law are here to help you.

Call our family law attorneys today at (936) 297-4668 to get started!

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“Ruby Bolton goes above and beyond to provide each client with very personal services.”
She helped me at two extremely difficult times in my life- the death of my husband and then my mother- to sort through probating their wills. I highly recommend her to anyone.

- Patti H.
“We wanted to make a point with a good law firm, and Bolton Law did just that.”
Ruby Bolton and the Bolton law firm really showed up for the case my wife had against her ex-husband. From her first visit at consultation to picking up the final draft, she felt like she was in good hands. At the end of all this, my wife was able to get some relief and was able to put her ex in check. We got the passport docs, got it to make it mandatory to take the kids to all their sporting events on his weekend, and his child support was reinstated.

- David V.
“I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and caring legal team.”
I had an amazing experience working with Ben Sander and Kassandra Ramirez during my divorce process. They made everything clear and smooth from start to finish, always taking the time to explain each step and answer any questions I had. Both were extremely responsive and professional, and I always felt supported and informed throughout the entire process. I truly appreciate all their help.

- Gabriella P.
“Communication was always smooth and professional.”
I had a wonderful experience working with Sara Saeed. She provided a very thorough and detailed consultation, making sure all of my questions were answered. Having worked with other attorneys in The Woodlands area before, I truly appreciate Sara’s knowledge, expertise, and the care she brings.

- Polina S.
“There are not enough words that can express how amazing the team is at Bolton Law Firm.”
Paige Pritchard made the process seamless and stress free. Her support on my case put me at ease during the entire filing process. I cannot thank her and David Greer enough for their attention to detail and personal attention they have my case.

- Dianie S.
“The Bolton Law firm was amazing and supportive throughout my case.”
Rob was very good to answer all my questions and worked hard to keep my case moving even when opposing counsel was slow to respond. While my case was expensive, it was not outside of what I expected to pay. Thank you for the great work.

- Jen M.
“Shaunte did so much more than other attorneys in such little time.”
I still have another day of trial, but I have already seen Shaunte fight and stand her ground. I wish I would have found her sooner, she has so many strengths and she is the attorney you want on your case even when things seem hopeless, she finds a way to fight. She is not intimidated at all, she is very respectful and caring and in court she knows how to keep fighting for what is right !!! Thank you so much Shaunte. I will forever be grateful for your help.

- Lali M.
“The legal team at Bolton Law was very professional and supportive from intake through finalization.”
Kassandra, my paralegal, kept me updated regularly and was such a great support through the whole process. Attorney Henry and Bolton handled everything with grace and were able to achieve a better outcome than I expected. 100/10 recommend Bolton Law for anything family law related!

- Sarah

What Are the Benefits of Establishing Paternity?

Here are some of the benefits of establishing paternity you should consider:

Establishing paternity can be highly beneficial to both parents and the child. It is required before a court can order child support, child custody, visitation, etc.

Father-Child Relationship

A healthy relationship with their father is critical to a child’s well-being. The first step to creating a healthy father-child relationship is undoubtedly establishing paternity. According to research, fathers who are active in the life of their children help boost the social and emotional health of their young ones.
Identity

It’s imperative for a child to know that they’re part of a family. At the same time, it’s paramount for the father to know that they are the legal dad of the child. Establishing paternity can help create and nurture healthy relationships between the father and the kid.
Identity is not simply having the father listed on the child’s birth certificate. It also contributes to the development of the child’s identity as they come to know and form a relationship with the father.
Financial

Both the father and the mother are expected to provide financial support for their children. For the court to order a father to pay child support, paternity must first be established.
Child support is not the only financial aspect impacted by the establishment of paternity. Other financial matters like life insurance, Social Security benefits, retirement, pension, and inheritance rights come into play in the event something happens to the father.
Custody & Visitation

If the parents do not live together or are fighting for custody and visitation rights, then establishing paternity may be required before the judge can approve custody or visitation for the father. Establishing paternity is essential for fathers to secure parenting time with the child.
Access to Information

In the state of Texas, both legal parents have the right to be notified regarding legal proceedings involving their child. These include adoption proceedings, custody hearings, juvenile court proceedings, or criminal proceedings. In addition, legal parents have the right to access information about medical, school, and religious records.
Medical

Establish fatherhood for the sake of the child’s medical history. The child or their doctor may need to know their medical history from both parents for certain genetic traits or conditions that may affect them. When lineage is confirmed, the father is also able to add the child to his health and dental insurance policies.

The Woodlands Paternity Lawyers at Bolton Law Are Here to Help

Child support and paternity are some of the most bitterly fought cases in Texas. These issues not only have an effect on the parties’ lives but also on the upbringing of the children. That’s why it is important to seek legal advice and representation. The Woodlands paternity lawyers at Bolton Law will protect your rights whether you’re the legal father or not.

Call us today at (936) 297-4668 to learn more about your options.

What Is Establishing Paternity?

In legal terms, establishing paternity is the process of determining a child’s legitimate father and the related rights and responsibilities of the father to the child. All children have a biological father, but not all have a legal father. This is where establishing lineage comes into the picture.

What Does Establishing Paternity Do?

Establishing paternity plays a major role in protecting the rights of both parents. For fathers:

It gives them the right to change the child’s last name.
It gives them a legal right to have a relationship with the child and makes future parenting agreements like custody and support less complex.
It gives them the right to travel with the child.
It gives them legal rights when there’s a concern about the other parent taking the child without consent.

When it comes to mothers establishing this allows them:

To share the responsibilities of being a parent
To help make a child support order against the father when necessary
To claim important benefits to the child, like medical insurance coverage, life insurance, social security, VA benefits, etc.

How Is Paternity Established?

In Texas, it is established either voluntarily or involuntarily through the court system:

Voluntary Establishment

More often than not, paternity is established voluntarily either at birth or shortly afterward. In the state of Texas, fatherhood is automatically assigned to the husband if the couple is married, whether the husband is the biological father or not. For unmarried couples, the father does not have legal rights to the child until lineage is established.

If the mother is unmarried, paternity is established at the clinic or hospital where the child is born through an Acknowledgment of Paternity form completed by the biological father. This form can also be completed later by sending a signed, notarized copy to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

If the mother is married at the time of the birth, her current husband is automatically presumed to be the legal father. The biological father cannot establish paternity using an Acknowledgement of Paternity form unless the presumed father waives his parental rights by signing a Presumed Parent’s Denial of Responsibility.

Involuntary Establishment

In some cases, paternity cannot be established voluntarily for various reasons. These reasons may include competing claims of paternity or questions about identifying the father. In such circumstances, establishing paternity through the court system is needed. Here, a court order to get a genetic test is usually the procedure.

The mother also has the right to approach the Department of Child Services, where the case is then referred to the county prosecutor. No sides are taken during the case and the proceedings are done on behalf of the child. This process does not require a lawyer, but you have the option to hire one.

The mother, alleged parent, or presumed parent can also file a Petition for Establishment of Paternity via the court system. This causes a summons to be served, whereby the opposing individual is given the chance to respond and the issue taken to court. This again does not call for legal representation, but at this stage, it is advisable to hire a seasoned family law attorney.

What if I Find Out I Am Not the Father?

Usually, it is advisable not to sign the dotted line, whether you know you are not the biological father or are uncertain. That’s because the moment you sign a paternity statement, you will be responsible for child support as well as for reimbursing the state for the welfare payments to the mother until you are able to prove you are not the biological father.

As earlier mentioned, you also have the option of filing a Petition for Establishment of Paternity via the court system where you can try to prove that you are not the father. Note that even if you have been paying child support and later discover you are not the father, you won’t be able to seek compensation for the payments.

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