What You Can Do if You Suspect a Child Is Yours

 Posted on January 30, 2024 in Fathers’ Rights

Men in Texas may find themselves in a situation where they suspect but do not know for sure, that a baby born to a woman they have been involved with is their biological child. If you have “done the math,” so to speak, and determined that you might be the father of a child, there are steps you can take to determine whether the child is, in fact, yours and begin asserting your father’s rights. While it is (almost) always quite clear who the mother of a child is, determining who the father is may require a DNA test. Some mothers intentionally avoid informing a male partner when they have become pregnant, possibly to avoid sharing custody or because they do not want a relationship with the father. However, a McKinney, TX, paternity and father's rights lawyer can initiate court proceedings to establish you as a legal father if it can be proven that the child is yours. 

Steps Potential Fathers Can Take

Establishing paternity can be quite simple or quite complicated depending on a few factors. Whether the mother is willing to cooperate with the process is a major factor. Steps potential fathers can take include: 

• Try communicating with the mother - In some cases, when the mother learns that you are interested in being a parent, she will readily admit that you are her co-parent. If the mother admits that the baby is yours, the two of you can simply sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity declaring that you are the father. If the mother blocks your number or refuses contact with you, it is probably time to talk to a lawyer.
• Initiate court proceedings - Your attorney can file a paternity suit with the court. The mother will be ordered to attend a hearing. In many cases, once the mother sees that you are this serious about asserting your parental rights, she will begin cooperating. If the mother fails to attend the hearing, you will likely be automatically deemed the father. 
• Ask the court to order a DNA test - If the mother appears and denies that you are her baby’s father, the next step is asking the court to order a DNA test. The DNA test will determine once and for all whether you are the child’s father. If you are, congratulations! You can begin asserting your rights as a parent. 

Suspecting that you have become a father without knowing for sure can be a difficult position to find yourself in. Fortunately, there are ways to make that determination with or without the mother’s cooperation. 

Contact a Collin County, TX, Father’s Rights Lawyer

The Ramage Law Group is dedicated to helping potential fathers determine their paternity status and begin enforcing their parental rights. Our dedicated McKinney, TX, paternity and father’s rights attorneys will do all we can to help you connect with your child. Contact us at 972-562-9890 to consult with an attorney.