In Texas, establishing parentage through paternity action is in the best interest of the child because it means that once the father is identified, the child will receive the benefits of child support and coverage from another parent for uninsured child healthcare costs. This means that the child’s overall health is apt to be better, and the child is also likely to be afforded better housing and schooling following establishing parentage. Of course, the financial obligations for a father that follows establishing paternity benefits the mother as well as she is no longer made to shoulder the entire burden.
Paternity actions can also establish a parent child relationship, which can pave the way for a father to exercise his parental rights and be granted visitation. It is also in the best interest of most children to have present relationships with both of their parents. In sum, establishing paternity in Texas is in the best interest of the child’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
However, not all paternity suits mean that the man facing the suit is the father. Michael Jordan is requesting that a paternity suit against him be dismissed because he says that paternity was established in the case of the 16-year-old in question in a prior family law proceeding.
Jordan’s spokeswoman said in a statement to the press, “Public records show that the paternity of the child was established many years ago and that Michael Jordan is not the father…It is unfortunate that well-known figures are the target of these kind of claims.”
It is true that there are instances in which men are falsely accused of being the father of a child. Accordingly, whichever side of a paternity suit an individual falls on, it is always best to retain an experienced paternity attorney. At the end of the day, it is the best interest of the child that needs to be remembered.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “Michael Jordan wants paternity lawsuit dismissed,” Kate Brumback, March 4, 2013
