What if the father chooses not to take a paternity test?
If the father does not take a paternity test in Texas, it can have serious consequences. In many cases, a court may order the father to take a paternity test. If the father does not comply, the judge may hold him in contempt of court. In the case of child support, if a father does not take a paternity test, the court will presume he is the legal father of the child and hold him responsible for child support payments. Even if the father is not the biological father, the court will not make any changes to the child support order until a paternity test is taken. In addition, if a father does not take a paternity test, he often loses his right to custody or visitation. He may also lose his financial and legal responsibility for the child unless he can prove otherwise. Without a paternity test, it is nearly impossible to clearly establish that the father is not the biological parent of the child. For fathers who choose not to take a paternity test, the consequences can be daunting: they may be held responsible for child support payments, lose their right to custody or visitation, and have no legal or financial responsibility for the child. If the father does not want this to happen, he must take a paternity test.
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