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paternity case in the State of Texas is a lawsuit to determine the natural and legal father of a minor child and to confer the rights and duties of a parent. The Mother in a paternity action has the right to raise and litigate the minor child's rights on the child's behalf.
The mother has the right to bring a paternity action on behalf of the minor child against an alleged father to determine whether he is the biological and legal father of the minor child. The mother is designated under the laws of the State of Florida the natural custodian of the minor child. This means that the mother has the initial legal right to exercise sole parental responsibility over the minor child until a legal father has been determined by a court of law. Once a paternity action is filed and a legal father is determined by a court of law the mother will most likely have to share the parental responsibility concerning the minor child with the father. If the mother does not wish to share these rights with the legal father then she should consider whether she should file a paternity action. The mother has the right to request, on the minor child's behalf, that the father pay child support, cover the minor child with medical and health insurance, pay a portion of the non-covered medical expenses of the minor child, pay a portion of the mother's medical expenses related to the birth of the minor child, and pay a portion of the mother's attorney's fees and litigation expenses. It may be helpful to discuss with an attorney the various issues in a paternity case including your questions concerning the mother's rights.
-- John H. Carney & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors |
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