Texas community resource
Mistaken Paternity Termination Self-Help Toolkit
TexasLawHelp.org
Free forms and instructions for asking a Texas court to terminate a legal father's parental rights when he was mistakenly identified as the child's genetic father.
Information last checked:
How to get help
Confirm every statutory requirement and deadline, complete and notarize the petition and supporting affidavit, file in the proper county, arrange service and any required state notice, attend the pretrial hearing and court-ordered testing, then prepare for the final hearing and file any signed orders. Legal review is strongly recommended.
Who this service helps
Limited to a legal father who is not the child's genetic father, was named through an acknowledgment or order without genetic testing while mistakenly believing he was the father, meets the listed exclusions, and files within two years after discovering he is not the genetic father.
Where this service is available
Service area: People handling eligible Texas legal matters, including residents and court users in Central Texas.
A service area describes where help is offered or who may be served. It is not necessarily the organization’s physical location.
Cost / fees
The guide and forms are free. Court filing, citation, service, notary, certified-copy, genetic-testing, and legal-assistance costs may apply; a fee-waiver form is available for eligible filers.
About this service
The toolkit covers statutory screening, the petition and affidavit, filing and service, notice to the attorney general when required, the pretrial hearing and possible court-ordered genetic testing, the final hearing, and related support-withholding orders.
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