Cypress
Paternity Rights
Divorce Lawyer
At Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, our law firm is dedicated to protecting and fighting for the rights of all fathers who want to be a part of their children’s life. Our Cypress father’s rights lawyers all believe that fathers deserve to be treated equally to mothers when it comes to fighting for custody, seeking child support, or spousal support. If you are worried that you are being treated unfairly, or you are concerned about paternity law, our team can help guide you through the divorce process while protecting your rights.
At Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, we always put the needs of any children involved first. This may mean fighting to ensure that you have the right to see the child and stay present in their lives.
We use a mix of experience in family law and divorce proceedings, as well as skills in mediation and negotiation in order to secure the brightest possible futures for our clients.
Call our law office today at (713) 229-8855 to speak to one of our divorce attorneys.
What Does Paternity Mean in Cypress, Texas?
For any father, biological or not, paternity claims can become a hotly contested issue when it comes to divorce proceedings and creating custody arrangements. Whether you know you are the biological father or not, you should seek legal representation from an attorney or law firm that has experience and skill in dealing with a paternity case.
Establishing paternity in Cypress, TX will require your family law attorney to determine who the legal father is. Legal fathers have certain rights and certain obligations towards their children in Texas.
Every child is born with a biological father but many children do not have a legal father. Usually, the name of the man married to the child’s mother when the child is born will be added to the birth certificate.
This then makes them the legal father of the child. In the case of a child being born outside of marriage, the child will not have a legal father until paternity can be established. Once this has happened, that father will be added to the birth certificate and they gain the responsibilities of a legal father towards that child.
How Do You Establish
Paternity in Cypress, Texas?
One of the legal services we offer here at Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers is aiding fathers who want to be acknowledged as the legal father of a child. If your ex-spouse is refusing to co-operate then our skilled attorneys will be able to advise you on the best way forward. In the state of Texas, there are two ways that you can establish your paternity:
Establishing Paternity When Both Parents Agree
The first way that you can establish paternity, is when both parents are in amicable agreement that one parent is the father. When they both acknowledge this, they can sign an agreement known as an “Acknowledgment of Paternity”. For most children, this is usually filled in at the hospital after the birth. As soon as this is signed and registered, the name of the father on the certificate becomes the legal father and assumes the legal rights and responsibilities to care for that child.
Establishing Paternity When Parents Disagree
Seeking paternity when both parties are in disagreement is much harder and will usually require the help of a law firm that offers legal aid to fathers in their paternity claims. To begin with, you will need to file a “Petition to Adjudicate Parentage” with the court that presides over the child. If it is the mother who is filing this petition, the father will need to appear in court if they want to contest it. If they do not show up, the Judge may use a “default order” in their absence, making them the legal father without their permission.
If one party denies the paternity of the child, the court has the ability to order that the father take a DNA test. This will require samples from the child, the father, and the mother. If the child is determined to be the biological child of the father, the court may add his name to the child’s birth certificate, naming him the legal father. If you find yourself in any of the above situations, you have the right to be represented by a paternity rights lawyer in court during proceedings.
Why Does Paternity Matter?
Paternity is important to establish for a number of different reasons. Legal fathers have a range of rights in regard to their children. These rights include visitation and custody rights that allow them to fight for access to their children. It also allows for certain involvement in matters such as inheritance and access to health insurance.
Non-Biological Fathers
When a father who is not the biological father of the child seeks father’s rights towards a child, the situation can become tricky to navigate. A clear solution to this obstacle is adoption. Adopting a child can give a non-biological father, legal father’s rights to a child. If you are a non-biological father and you feel you should be the person who has parental rights over a child, make sure you contact a family law attorney immediately.
What Are Father’s Rights?
If you are classified as the legal father, you gain certain parental rights. These rights include:
- Child custody rights.
- Inheritance rights.
- The right to appoint a legal guardian in the case of parents passing.
- The right to sign contacts on behalf of your child.
- The right to be the legal counsel on behalf of your child.
- The right to seek legal counsel on behalf of your child.
- The right to make important decisions about your child’s life, such as medical and educational matters.
Unfit Parents
If you think that your ex-spouse is unfit and incapable of raising your child correctly, you need to seek legal representation from a skilled family law attorney immediately. If you have proof that your children are in danger, we can file an emergency protective order that protects your children from further harm. Fighting for sole custody is exceptionally difficult and without the help of a good family law attorney, you may struggle. A good attorney will help you build your case and present your evidence in the most compelling way. This will give you the best chance of obtaining sole custody.
Cypress Family Law Attorneys
The best way to fight for your paternal rights and protect your children’s future is to seek skilled and experienced representation from a family law firm. When you are fighting over matters that will affect both your and your children’s futures, making sure you have capable representation is crucial.
Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers has the experience, skill, and resources necessary to help you fight for your rights and protect your children. Throughout the entire process, one of our skilled attorneys will be able to work with you and ensure you have the answers to any questions you may have about your legal rights. We can help guide you through the complexities of Texas family law.
“I can’t imagine I would have made it through my divorce, mentally or emotionally, without her. She is insanely intelligent and astute, she is on top of absolutely everything family law related, responsive, reassuring, and gives you confidence in a very unfamiliar world. She’s prompt, factual, strategic, and exactly what you hope for in a lawyer if not more. You can depend on her. Tina is also phenomenal in court. She found so many discrepancies in my ex’s attorney’s work. It was not only impressive, but revealed how detrimental things can be without a truly thorough lawyer like Tina.”
“Not one detail missed and with the situation where my children were at risk, the extra care and attention made all the difference to get full judgement in my favor. I highly recommend Matt and his team!”
“Skillern Firm is the best attorneys in Houston. He genuinely cares about his clients and his firm is diligent, hardworking and very through. I highly recommend him and do not have enough words to thank him for his extraordinary performance in getting justice for my family.”
“I have used several family law attorneys in the 10-17 years and my ex takes me back to court every year. I have worked with Matt Skillern, Caitlyn Thorpe, and Stacy Sawyer. I would never go elsewhere. If you want it done, and done right, do not hesitate to contact them. I have had terrible experiences with all of the family law attorneys I have dealt with outside of them. I only provide positive reviews so my bad experiences are not noted. If you want a positive and good experience, pls go there!”
“The communication is top notch from her to her staff. Her responses were quick at all times, and never left any questions unanswered. I always felt how important my case was to her. Caitlin is an amazing, trustworthy, brilliant, and beautiful human who truly cares about her clients and will fight hard for them. Caitlin isn’t scared to speak out and won’t sugarcoat anything. She knows family law extremely well and during trial always knew the facts of my case very well, was familiar with all details and effectively fought for my kid's rights. I couldn't have been happier with Caitlin and the outcome of my case. I only wish I would’ve hired her sooner, right when the divorce started. Anyone would be so lucky to have her as their attorney.”
Speak to a
Skilled Paternity
Rights Lawyer in
Cypress, TX Today!
Whether you are the biological father or not, if you care for your children and you want to be a part of their future, Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers is here to listen, and help.
We will help you fight against unfair child custody and child support arrangements. We will also help you to become the legal father of your child if your name is not on the birth certificate and you believe it should be. We value the attorney-client relationship and will fight aggressively to protect the rights of all fathers.
Call us today at (713) 229-8855 to arrange an initial consultation.
Schedule A Consultation Today
© Copyright 2026 Skillern Firm. All Rights Reserved.
