Can a father be ordered to take a paternity test?

In Texas, a father can be ordered to take a paternity test to determine the legal father of a child. A paternity test is a medical test that compares a child’s genetic sequence to that of the father’s. The result of the test indicates whether or not the father is the legal father of the child. The Texas Family Code allows either the mother or father of the child to file a civil suit to declare the paternity of a child. In the suit, the mother or father may request that the court order the alleged father to take a paternity test. If the alleged father refuses to take the test, the court has the power to hold the alleged father in contempt and require the father to comply with the court order to take the test. If the paternity test reveals that the alleged father is in fact the father of the child, the father can be held legally and financially responsible for the child. The father may be responsible for providing economic support for the child through child support payments. In Texas, a father can be ordered to take a paternity test in order to determine legal paternity of a child. The test results from the paternity test can be used to demonstrate legal financial responsibility for the child.

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Can a father be ordered to take a paternity test?

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