Full question:
I’m not married but have a 6-month-old baby. We live in Texas. I do not want the child’s father to have any claims on him. I’m yet to apply for my baby’s birth certificate. Can I omit to enter the name of my baby’s father in the certificate?
- Category: Paternity
- Subcategory: Birth Certificate
- Date:
- State: Texas
Answer:
In Texas, you can choose not to include the father's name on your baby's birth certificate. According to Texas law, the father's name is only required if:
- the mother was married to the father at the time of conception or birth, or after the birth,
- paternity has been established by a court order, or
- the father has signed a valid acknowledgment of paternity that is filed with the vital statistics unit.
If you file a birth certificate without the father's information, the state registrar will notify the attorney general. This is outlined in Sec. 192.005 of the Health and Safety Code.
Thus, you can proceed without entering the father's details if none of the conditions above apply.
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.