Children deserve to have both parents present as they grow into adults. Sometimes, however, for varying reasons, they miss out on the chance to develop a relationship with their fathers because the men are absent from their lives. Knowing that some men actually do not want to be a part of their child’s life, when a man takes responsibility, it can be of great benefit for the mother to encourage involvement. Based on the relationship the man and child have, the man will fall under one of two types of fathers.
The following are the different types of classification for fathers in Texas:
● Adjudicated Father- The man who the court adjudicated or legally determined to be the child’s father.
● Presumed Father- The man who is, due to certain circumstances, presumed to be the child’s father.
Depending on what classification of father a man falls under, he will have certain responsibilities. While most men may choose to care for a child, a man may have lingering doubts regarding whether the child is truly his. In this case, he could take the necessary steps before continuing to act as the child’s father. For example, the presumed father may have to make child support payments. However, if he has doubts, he will naturally want to be sure that he is the biological father and confirm paternity as early as possible.
While a father may want to have a relationship with his child, the mother may not always allow this. Should this be an issue you are having, you will need to prove paternity before you can attempt to be awarded visitation or custody. This process can be trying and emotional for both parents and the child, but with the help of an attorney, you may be able to be in your child’s life and establish a relationship with him or her.
