There has been a change to child support laws in Texas, effective September 1, 2013. The new law will allow men to dispute paternity within a year of figuring out that they are not the father of a child they are paying support to. Under the new law, if a man waits longer than a year to report that he may have been wrongly ordered to pay child support, he could be stuck paying it.
To seek termination, the father must file a verified petition stating that he is not the child’s father. Additionally, the father must state that he signed the acknowledgment of paternity or failed to contest parentage because of the mistaken belief that he was the child’s genetic father. The mistaken belief must have been held at the time the acknowledgment was signed or on the date the court order in the previous proceeding was rendered.
If you believe you have been wrongly ordered by the court to pay child support, it is important to take action immediately. Contact Bailey & Galyen for a free initial consultation. To set up an appointment with an experienced Texas family law attorney, contact us by e-mail or call 1-800-208-3104. We will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.