Paternity Lawyers in Houston

Comprehensive Support for Establishing & Contesting Paternity in Texas

A paternity action establishes a father’s parental relationship with a child and, when successful, confers legal responsibilities and parenting rights to the father. A father might seek to establish parentage to gain custody and/or visitation rights over a child. A mother may file a paternity action to establish the father’s financial responsibility for her child.

Houston paternity attorney Cynthia Tracy has helped thousands of mothers and fathers successfully pursue paternity rights over the past three decades. Cynthia served as a managing attorney with the Texas Attorney General’s Office for over 10 years and served for 3 years as an associate judge (referee). We have the experience to effectively and efficiently handle even the most complex paternity cases.

Do you have questions regarding paternity, either as a mother or a father? Contact Cynthia Tracy, Attorney at Law, P.C. at (281) 612-5443 to get started with our paternity attorneys in Houston.

What Is Paternity?

Paternity commonly refers to the legal identification of a child's father. Establishing paternity is crucial for various reasons, including child support, visitation rights, and inheritance.

Ways to Establish Paternity in Texas

Establishing paternity in Texas involves legally acknowledging the biological father of a child. This process ensures that both parents share the rights and responsibilities associated with parenthood. The state of Texas provides several methods for establishing paternity:

• Voluntary Acknowledgment: One of the simplest ways to establish paternity is through a voluntary acknowledgment. Both parents can sign a legal document known as the "Acknowledgment of Paternity" at the hospital or at a later time. This document is then filed with the Texas Vital Statistics Unit, solidifying the legal relationship between the father and child.
• Court-Ordered Paternity Testing: In cases where paternity is disputed or when one party refuses to acknowledge it voluntarily, the court may intervene. A judge can issue a court order mandating genetic testing to determine biological paternity. Once the results are available, the court will establish paternity based on the evidence presented.
• Administrative Paternity Proceedings: The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division can also play a role in establishing paternity. If the child receives public assistance, the Attorney General may initiate administrative proceedings to determine paternity and enforce child support obligations.
• Marriage and Paternity Legitimation: If the parents marry after the child's birth and both consent to the husband being recognized as the legal father, the court may legitimize the child through marriage.