How Can a Family Law Attorney Help With Paternity Disputes?

 Posted on June 20, 2025 in Family Law

Establishing or contesting paternity can be a sensitive and emotional issue for everyone involved. Legal paternity affects parental rights, child support, visitation, and other related matters. No matter which side of the argument you are on, a paternity dispute can quickly become complicated, but an attorney can help you handle these legal and emotional challenges while protecting your rights and interests.

If you are facing a paternity dispute, our Frisco, TX family law attorneys can help you understand your options, represent your interests, and work toward a fair resolution. You do not have to handle this process alone.

What Is a Paternity Dispute?

A paternity dispute involves a disagreement over who a child's legal father is. These cases can arise in several ways, including:

• A man denying that he is the biological father of a child

• A mother seeking to establish paternity to receive child support

• A father wanting legal recognition and visitation rights

• A third party challenging an existing paternity acknowledgment

Legal fatherhood is not always automatic. If a child is born outside of marriage, paternity must be established either voluntarily or through court action. Without legal paternity, mothers cannot force someone to pay child support, and biological fathers have no parental rights.

How Is Paternity Established in Texas?

Under Texas law, legal paternity can be established in one of two main ways. With a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP), both parents can sign a legal form confirming that a man is the child’s father. This form is usually signed at the hospital when the child is born, but it can be completed later.

If there is a dispute over paternity, either parent can ask the court to order genetic testing. A judge can use the results to issue an order establishing or denying paternity.

If paternity is established, the legal father has the same rights and responsibilities as any other parent. This includes custody, visitation, and child support obligations. We can help you gather evidence, request genetic testing, file the paperwork, and present your case in court.

How Can Paternity Disputes Affect the Children?

When there is conflict about who a child’s father is, it can create confusion, stress and uncertainty for that child. Children may struggle with questions about their identity, family relationships, and stability. These disputes can also affect your child’s sense of belonging and emotional security.

To minimize these impacts, try to focus on your child’s emotional needs instead of your own. Maintain open, age-appropriate communication that does not paint the other parent in a bad light. Seeking help from a counselor or child therapist can also be beneficial in some cases. When possible, resolving legal issues quickly and peacefully with the help of our family law attorneys can help reduce conflict and provide your child with a stronger sense of stability and security.

Work With Our North Texas Paternity Dispute Lawyers

If you are involved in a paternity dispute, you need legal guidance you can trust. Our Collin County, TX family law attorneys can explain your rights, advocate for your and your child’s interests, and help resolve paternity matters as efficiently and respectfully as possible. Call Moore Family Law, P.C. today at 214-764-8033 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.