Is a father legally obligated to pay child support if he is not named on the birth certificate?

In Texas, the legal responsibility for child support is established by the Texas Family Code. A father is legally obligated to pay child support, even if he is not named on the birth certificate. It is assumed that if the father is not on the birth certificate, he is not the biological father. The law still requires he provide support. In Texas, for a father to demonstrate he is not the legal parent of the child, he must file a Denial of Paternity or initiate a suit to disprove a parent-child relationship. Until the court makes a ruling, the father is still responsible to pay child support. Texas has established a program to help prove paternity and secure child support for the child. The Texas Office of the Attorney General offers services to help with this process. Additionally, the presumed father is liable for back child support payments accrued prior to the Denial of Paternity. The mother can take legal action to collect back payments. If the father passes away, the court can rule that his estate is responsible for the arrears of unpaid child support if the Denial of Paternity had not been established. It is important for parents to understand the laws in Texas when it comes to paternity. A father is bound to provide financial support for a child regardless of whether he is listed on the birth certificate or not. It is best to take the proper legal steps to ensure paternity is established or disproved in order to protect everyone involved.

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