Paternity

A paternity suit is a legal action brought to establish the identity of a child’s father. According to Texas law, if a child is born out of wedlock, the father does not automatically have legal rights to participate in the care and custody of a child, nor does he automatically have a legal obligation to support the child.

Typically paternity suits are filed for one or more of the following reasons:

• To gain custody or possession of a child.
• To modify an existing custody order.
• To establish visitation rights.
• To obtain financial support, including benefits like health insurance.