Paternity

Paternity and Parental Rights to Custody and Visitation

Houston, Texas, Attorneys Addressing Paternity From All Angles

At Conner & Lindamood in Houston, Texas, we represent men and women seeking to establish a legal parent-child relationship through the paternity process. This enables our clients to exercise their parental rights or enforce the other parent's responsibilities under the law.

Our goal is to serve the best interests of our client and the child in question by quickly learning the truth about paternity in an efficient and cost-effective manner. If you are a mother seeking to prove the paternity of your child or a man seeking to establish or dispute paternity, please contact us today to schedule an appointment.

The Facts About Establishing Paternity

Legally establishing paternity, either through agreement or through DNA testing, enables the courts to address important issues such as child custody, child support and visitation in cases where a child is born to unmarried couples or where actual paternity is in doubt.

The easiest way to legally establish a child's paternity is for both parties to agree. This makes a blood test unnecessary. In cases where a mutual agreement is not forthcoming, a paternity suit may be filed and a DNA test may be ordered by the court.

Not only can the mother or probable father file a suit to determine paternity, but the child (or representative of the child) or a government agency may pursue such action. Paternity suits may be brought before the child is born and up to two years after the child reaches legal adulthood at 18. The costs of filing a paternity suit and the necessary testing are usually divided between both parties, although a judge can rule otherwise.

Other Types of Paternity Suits in Texas

Under Texas law, when a child is conceived in or born into a marriage, the husband is presumed to be the legal and actual father. A paternity suit can be brought by another man who believes he is the biological father with the goal of establishing paternity and ensuring his parental rights.

A husband may also contest the paternity of a child conceived or born in marriage, although success in these cases requires overcoming a legal presumption of fatherhood.

To discuss the specifics of your case with an experienced Texas paternity lawyer, please contact our offices in Houston today.

We are proud to also serve Galveston County, Fort Bend County and Brazoria County. Outside the Houston metro area, call us toll free at (866) 504-0857.