There are many reasons to determine the father of a child. Establishing paternity in Texas is important for all involved, especially for the child, not only to establish a relationship, but because both parents have an obligation to provide for the child. Once paternity has been established, the child’s father is responsible for child support among other things.
Once paternity is established and parental rights are set, child support may be calculated and ordered, including back child support if appropriate. If private agreed-upon payments were made, these can be included in determining an obligation to pay. Ascertaining paternity gives a father legal parental rights to the child, and that is something that will be in place even if he and the mother are not together.
A necessary step for unmarried parents
Unmarried parenthood is something that happens more frequently today. Even if the relationship between the parents is a good one, it’s still important to establish parental rights as per the law and for the welfare of the child. These determinations, along with a comprehensive parenting plan, can help improve the long-term relationship between the parents themselves and between the parents and the child.
Professional support is readily available
For Texas residents who need help establishing paternity for child support or who need parental rights determined, seeking independent legal advice can be a wise first step. Getting paternity issues ironed out from the start in these cases can eliminate a lot of negative potential consequences, allowing a much-smoother transition into the future. An experienced attorney can carefully evaluate one’s unique circumstances before determining the best course of action to take.