Child Support and Visitation Rights for Unmarried Parents
Many people assume that if an unmarried father signs his name to a child's birth certificate, he is the presumptive father for purposes of child support. However, that is not true. In Texas, there are two ways to establish paternity when the parents are not married:
- Have the father sign a notarized acknowledgment of paternity.
- Secure a judicial finding of paternity (also known as a paternity action). If the father does not acknowledge paternity, the court will order a DNA test.
I'm Jesse White, a family law attorney in San Antonio, Texas. If you are an unmarried parent who wishes to secure rights to child support or visitation, I offer a free initial consultation to explain paternity actions and answer your questions.
When Do I Need to File a Paternity Action?
Most mothers file paternity actions in order to obtain court-ordered child support from an unmarried father. While fathers file paternity less often than mothers, they may do so to secure visitation rights if the mother has cut off contact with a child following the breakup of their relationship.
What if a Child is Born Following a Divorce?
The ex-husband may be presumed to be the father if the child could have been conceived while the couple were still married. If you think you were not the father, you can seek a paternity action to disestablish paternity by means of DNA testing.
How Do I Obtain Child Support or Visitation Rights?
Once a judicial finding of paternity has been made, child support and visitation rights will be addressed in a separate family court proceeding.
A Lawyer-Client Relationship Based on Trust
To discuss your concerns about child support and visitation with an experienced San Antonio family law attorney, call 866-207-6772 today or fill out the contact form on this Web site. Your initial consultation is free.
