When you had your child, you weren’t sure what your rights were since you and the father were never married. Now, you have chosen to end your relationship, and you’re worried about whether you could get child support and just what the process would be like. Can you receive child support if you were never married to your child’s other parent?
The short answer is yes, but there’s so much more to this conversation. Let’s explore this in today’s blog post.
Is Child Support Available to Previously Unmarried Parents?
In Texas, you can get child support from the father even if you were never married because Texas law recognizes that both parents are responsible for supporting their child financially. In other words, the child’s right to be supported by both parents is not dependent on the parents’ marital status.
Here are the steps you must follow to receive child support:
- Establish paternity — Each parent must agree to sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP), stating that you are the rightful parent. If both parents do not agree to sign the AOP, a court-ordered DNA test may be necessary.
- File a formal petition with the Court — You must tell the Court that you wish to receive child support from your former partner (the other parent). The Court will review the request and, if approved, will set the amount of support and establish enforcement measures should the paying parent fail to adhere to their child support obligations.
Please Call Christman | Daniell for Your Legal Needs Today!
Looking for family law services in Texas? Christman | Daniell is your premier choice with years of experience and a deep understanding of the legal landscape. Our skilled team is dedicated to helping families navigate complex legal matters. Whether it’s divorce, child custody, or adoption, trust Christman | Daniell to provide compassionate and effective representation for all your family law needs throughout Collin County.
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