Paternity plays a crucial role in securing parental rights and ensuring a child receives the financial and emotional support they deserve. At Jean Brown Law Firm, we help all types of families navigate the legal process of establishing or contesting parental rights in Texas.
Why Establishing Paternity Matters
Determining legal parentage is essential for:
- Parental Rights: Unmarried parents must establish legal parentage to secure custody or visitation rights.
- Child Support: Legal recognition ensures that both parents contribute to the child’s financial well-being.
- Medical and Inheritance Rights: A legally recognized parent-child relationship grants access to benefits such as health insurance, Social Security, and inheritance rights.
- Emotional and Familial Bonds: Establishing parentage allows a child to build meaningful relationships with both parents.
Ways to Establish Parentage in Texas
- Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP): Both parents can sign an AOP form at the hospital or later through the Texas Vital Statistics Unit.
- Court-Ordered Determination: When parentage is disputed, either parent can petition the court for genetic testing or legal recognition.
- Presumed Parentage: In certain circumstances, a person may be presumed to be a legal parent based on marital or other family relationships.
Contesting Parentage
In cases where parental rights are questioned, legal action may be necessary to challenge or disprove a claim. Our firm assists clients in:
- Petitioning for DNA testing to establish or disprove biological relationships
- Challenging wrongful parentage claims
- Modifying child support or custody based on legal determinations
How Jean Brown Law Firm Can Help
Our experienced attorneys provide:
- Clear guidance on Texas parentage laws and procedures
- Assistance with voluntary acknowledgments or legal petitions
- Strong representation in parentage disputes or court proceedings
- Advocacy for parental rights in both traditional and non-traditional family structures
At Jean Brown Law Firm, we are committed to helping families of all kinds establish legal parentage to protect their rights and ensure their children receive the support they deserve. Contact us today to learn how we can assist with your case.
