Paternity

Paternity Lawyers Serving Southlake Families

Providing Legal Representation for Clients Seeking to Establish Paternity

If you are a parent, you are well aware of the importance of being in your child’s life. Not only do you want to keep a relationship because you love your child, but you also deserve to have a say in how they are raised. You may even qualify for child support based on proving you are the biological father.

In Tarrant County, a father’s rights are just as protected as those of the mother. However, to have your legal rights recognized, you must prove that you are the legal father. Our family law firm has decades of experience helping families strengthen their ties and improve children’s well-being through paternity cases. We have a great depth of knowledge regarding Texas family law, and we will apply that experience and skill in your case.

When you need help with a paternity case, either proving you are a child’s legal father or seeking to establish your parental rights, you can turn to the Law Office of Dana L. White, PLLC. Our compassionate team of Southlake family lawyers will help you navigate the legal process of pursuing paternity and parental rights.

How Is Paternity Established in Tarrant County?

While identifying the mother of a child is usually a simple matter, legally recognizing a man as the child’s father can be more complex. Paternity cases often arise when the child’s parents are unmarried, and the legal father wasn’t listed on the birth certificate. However, just because you aren’t currently recognized as the father doesn’t mean your hope for paternity rights is lost.

There are a few ways to establish paternity in Texas:

  • Presumed paternity – A man may be recognized as the presumed father if he was married to the child’s mother at approximately the time of conception. This is a commonly used method of establishing paternity.
  • Acknowledgment of paternity – If a couple voluntarily acknowledges the father, this may be used to seek legal parental rights. An AOP is often signed in the hospital when the child is born, but it may be signed later.
  • Court order – If a father has not been recognized and the mother refuses to sign an AOP, the court may order testing to determine whether the man is the father. DNA testing can dispel any doubts as to the paternity of the child. A positive result means the father can begin seeking paternal rights.
  • Denial of paternity – Sometimes, the mother makes a paternity claim that the presumed father may deny. In these cases, a denial of paternity case arises, and certain documents or testing may be needed to establish paternity of the real father.

What Are the Benefits of Establishing Paternity?

Establishing paternity brings many benefits for both the father and the child.

A child with a legally recognized father typically enjoys greater stability and a stronger sense of identity. They may also have a higher quality of life as the mother may be eligible for child support. They could also qualify for health insurance through their father, which can improve their health and medical care. Finally, knowing their father can build better relationships, which can improve the child’s emotional well-being.

A father who establishes paternity also benefits from strengthened relationships with his child. He can seek custody and visitation rights, which allow him to spend time with the child and have a say in their upbringing, such as religion, health care, and education. In some cases, a father may qualify for child support from a paying mother.

Without establishing paternity, the child’s mother may lack the support she needs, causing emotional and financial strain. She may not qualify for support from government entities without identifying the biological father.

Contact our legal team today to learn how to take legal action and establish paternity according to Texas law.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer for My Paternity Case?

With family law, too much is at stake to risk going it alone. If you need to prove that you’re the legal father and that you deserve a chance at paternity rights like child support and child custody, please don’t handle this matter alone. Reach out to a family lawyer, such as those at our law firm, for advice and representation.

Our team of attorneys can help you establish paternity in Texas by:

  • Explaining your options as you seek paternity
  • Talking to the child’s mother to get a voluntary AOP if possible
  • Building a case based on substantial evidence if your case goes to court
  • Seeking financial support through a child support order
  • Handling legal minutiae, such as forms and documents
  • Advising you as legal complexities arise during your case
  • Providing emotional support every step of the way

We know that taking legal action can be intimidating. We’ll make the process as painless and straightforward as possible so that you can enjoy a lifetime of closeness with your child.

Should You Hire Our Paternity Lawyers?

Choosing the right Dallas paternity attorneys can make all the difference in your legal proceedings. You need a group with extensive legal knowledge and many years of experience.

At the Law Office of Dana L. White, PLLC, we have represented countless parents as they seek child custody, child support, visitation rights, and other parental rights. We understand the importance of preserving your rights and maintaining a role in your child’s life. We promise to listen carefully to you and answer your questions in terms you can understand. We’ll seek the best interests of both you and your child in every action we take.

Call our legal team now at (817) 512-1580 to speak with our team about starting your paternity claim.