Full question:
Can a woman just write my name down on the birth certificate and get child support and benefits off of me even though I may not be the father?
- Category: Vital Records
- Subcategory: Birth Certificates
- Date:
- State: Texas
Answer:
No, a woman cannot establish your paternity or claim child support and benefits from you simply by writing your name on the child's birth certificate. In Texas, specific conditions must be met to establish paternity:
- The child's mother must have been married to you at the time of conception, birth, or after birth.
- Paternity must be established by a court order.
- You must have filed a valid acknowledgment of paternity with the vital statistics unit.
If none of these conditions are met, she cannot claim you as the father for support or benefits.
Relevant Texas law includes Sec. 192.005, which outlines the requirements for completing a birth certificate regarding paternity.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.