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November 3, 2025160.301. Acknowledgment of Paternity
The mother of a child and a man claiming to be the biological father of the child may sign an acknowledgment of paternity with the intent to establish the man’s paternity.
Selected Statutes: Texas
- Civil Practice and Remedies Code
- Family Code
- Title 1. The Marriage Relationship
- Title 4. Protective Orders and Family Violence
- Subtitle A. General Provision
- Subtitle B. Protective Orders
- Chapter 81. General Provision
- 81.001. Entitlement to Protective Order
- 81.002. No Fee for Applicant
- 81.003. Fees and Costs Paid by Party Found to Have Committed Family Violence
- 81.004. Contempt for Nonpayment of Fee
- 81.005. Attorney's Fees
- 81.006. Payment of Attorney's Fees
- 81.007. Prosecuting Attorney
- 81.0075. Representation by Prosecuting Attorney in Certain Other Actions
- 81.008. Relief Cumulative
- 81.009. Appeal
- Chapter 82. Applying for Protective Order
- Subchapter A. Application for Protective Order
- 82.001. Application
- 82.002. Who May File Application
- 82.003. Venue
- 82.004. Contents of Application
- 82.005. Application Filed During Suit for Dissolution of Marriage or Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
- 82.006. Application Filed After Dissolution of Marriage
- 82.007. Application Filed for Child Subject to Continuing Jurisdiction
- 82.008. Application Filed After Expiration of Former Protective Order
- 82.0085. Application Filed Before Expiration of Previously Rendered Protective Order
- 82.009. Application for Temporary ex Parte Order
- 82.010. Confidentiality of application
- 82.011. Confidentiality of Certain Information
- Subchapter B. Pleadings By Respondent
- Subchapter C. Notice of Application For Protective Order
- Subchapter A. Application for Protective Order
- Chapter 83. Temporary Ex Parte Orders
- Chapter 84. Hearing
- Chapter 85. Issuance of Protective Order
- Subchapter A. Findings and Orders
- 85.001. Required Findings and Orders
- 85.002. Exception for Violation of Expired Protective Order
- 85.003. Separate Protective Orders Required
- 85.004. Protective Order in Suit for Dissolution of Marriage
- 85.005. Agreed Order
- 85.006. Default Order
- 85.007. Confidentiality of Certain Information
- 85.009. Order Valid Until Superseded
- Subchapter B. Contents of Protective Order
- 85.021. Requirements of Order Applying to Any Party
- 85.022. Requirements of Order Applying to Person Who Committed Family Violence
- 85.0225. Separation of Wireless Telephone Service Account
- 85.023. Effect on Property Rights
- 85.024. Enforcement of Counseling Requirement
- 85.025. Duration of Protective Order
- 85.026. Warning on Protective Order
- Subchapter C. Delivery of Protective Order
- Subchapter D. Relationship Between Protective Order and Suit for Dissolution of Marriage and Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
- 85.061. Dismissal of Application Prohibited; Subsequently Filed Suit for Dissolution of Marriage or Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
- 85.062. Application Filed While Suit for Dissolution of Marriage or Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship Pending
- 85.063. Application Filed After Final Order Rendered in Suit for Dissolution of Marriage or Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
- 85.064. Transfer of Protective Order
- 85.065. Effect of Transfer
- Subchapter A. Findings and Orders
- Chapter 86. Law Enforcement Duties Relating to Protective Orders
- 86.001. Adoption of Procedures by Law Enforcement Agency
- 86.0011. Duty to Enter Information into Statewide Law Enforcement Information System
- 86.002. Duty to Provide Information to Firearms Dealers
- 86.003. Court Order for Law Enforcement Assistance Under Temporary Order
- 86.004. Court Order for Law Enforcement Assistance Under Final Order
- 86.005. Protective Order From Another Jurisdiction
- Chapter 87. Modification of Protective Orders
- Chapter 88. Uniform Interstate Enforcement of Protective Orders
- Chapter 81. General Provision
- Subtitle C. Reporting Family Violence
- Title 5. The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship
- Subtitle A. General Provisions
- Chapter 101. Definitions
- 101.0010. Acknowledged Father
- 101.0015. Alleged Father
- 101.003. Child or Minor; Adult
- 101.007. Clear and Convincing Evidence
- 101.009. Danger to Physical Health or Safety of Child
- 101.0125. Family Violence
- 101.0145. Guardian Ad Litem
- 101.016. Joint Managing Conservatorship
- 101.019. Managing Conservatorship
- 101.024. Parent
- 101.025. Parent-Child Relationship
- 101.029. Standard Possession Order
- Chapter 102. Filing Suit
- Chapter 103. Venue and Transfer of Original Proceedings
- Chapter 105. Settings, Hearings, and Orders
- Chapter 101. Definitions
- Subtitle B. Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship
- Chapter 151. Rights and Duties in Parent-Child Relationship
- Chapter 152. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
- Subchapter B. General Provisions
- 152.101. Short Title
- 152.102. Definitions
- 152.103. Proceedings Governed by Other Law
- 152.104. Application to Indian Tribes
- 152.105. International Application of Chapter
- 152.106. Effect of Child Custody Determination
- 152.107. Priority
- 152.108. Notice to Persons Outside State
- 152.109. Appearance and Limited Immunity
- 152.110. Communication Between Courts
- 152.111. Taking Testimony in Another State
- 152.112. Cooperation Between Courts; Preservation of Records
- Subchapter C. Jurisdiction
- 152.201. Initial Child Custody Jurisdiction
- 152.202. Exclusive Continuing Jurisdiction
- 152.203. Jurisdiction to Modify Determination
- 152.204. Temporary Emergency Jurisdiction
- 152.205. Notice; Opportunity to be Heard; Joinder
- 152.206. Simultaneous Proceedings
- 152.207. Inconvenient Forum
- 152.208. Jurisdiction Declined by Reason of Conduct
- 152.209. Information to be Submitted to Court
- 152.210. Appearance of Parties and Child
- Subchapter D. Enforcement
- 152.301. Definitions
- 152.302. Enforcement Under Hague Convention
- 152.303. Duty to Enforce
- 152.304. Temporary Visitation
- 152.305. Registration of Child Custody Determination
- 152.306. Enforcement of Registered Determination
- 152.307. Simultaneous Proceedings
- 152.308. Expedited Enforcement of Child Custody Determination
- 152.309. Service of Petition and Order
- 152.310. Hearing and Order
- 152.311. Warrant to Take Physical Custody of Child
- 152.312. Costs, Fees, and Expenses
- 152.313. Recognition and Enforcement
- 152.314. Accelerated Appeals
- 152.315. Role of Prosecutor or Public Official
- 152.316. Role of Law Enforcement
- 152.317. Costs and Expenses
- Subchapter B. General Provisions
- Chapter 153. Conservatorship, Possession, and Access
- Subchapter A. General Provisions
- 153.001. Public Policy
- 153.002. Best Interest of Child; Rebuttable Presumption in Suit Between Parent and Nonparent
- 153.003. No Discrimination Based on Sex or Marital Status
- 153.004. History of Domestic Violence or Sexual Abuse
- 153.005. Appointment of Sole or Joint Managing Conservator
- 153.006. Appointment of Possessory Conservator
- 153.007. Agreed Parenting Plan
- 153.0071. Alternate Dispute Resolution Procedures
- 153.009. Interview of Child in Chambers
- 153.010. Order for Family Counseling
- 153.011. Security Bond
- 153.012. Right to Privacy; Deletion of Personal Information in Records
- 153.013. False Report of Child Abuse
- 153.014. Visitation Centers and Visitation Exchange Facilities
- 153.015. Electronic Communication With Child by Conservator.
- Subchapter B. Parent Appointed as Conservator: In General
- 153.071. Court to Specify Rights and Duties of Parent Appointed a Conservator
- 153.072. Written Finding Required to Limit Parental Rights and Duties
- 153.073. Rights of Parent at All Times
- 153.074. Rights and Duties During Period of Possession
- 153.075. Duties of Parent Not Appointed Conservator
- 153.076. Duty to Provide Information
- Subchapter C. Parent Appointed as Sole or Joint Managing Conservator
- 153.131. Presumption That Parent to be Appointed Managing Conservator
- 153.132. Rights and Duties of Parent Appointed Sole Managing Conservator
- 153.133. Parenting Plan for Joint Managing Conservatorship
- 153.134. Court-Ordered Joint Conservatorship
- 153.135. Equal Possession Not Required
- 153.138. Child Support Order Affecting Joint Conservators
- Subchapter D. Parent Appointed as Possessory Conservator
- Subchapter E. Guidelines for the Possession of a Child by a Parent Names as Possessory Conservator
- 153.251. Policy and General Application of Guidelines
- 153.252. Rebuttable Presumption
- 153.253. Standard Possession Order Inappropriate or Unworkable
- 153.254. Child Less Than Three Years of Age
- 153.255. Agreement
- 153.256. Factors for Court to Consider
- 153.257. Means of Travel
- 153.258. Request for Findings When Order Varies From Standard Order
- Subchapter F. Standard Possession Order
- 153.311. Mutual Agreement or Specified Terms for Possession
- 153.312. Parents Who Reside 100 Miles or Less Apart
- 153.313. Parents Who Reside Over 100 Miles Apart
- 153.314. Holiday Possession Unaffected by Distance Parents Reside Apart
- 153.315. Weekend Possession Extended by Holiday
- 153.316. General Terms and Conditions
- 153.317. Alternative Possession Times
- 153.3171. Beginning and Ending Possession Times for Parents Who Reside 50 Miles or Less Apart
- Subchapter G. Appointment of Nonparent as Conservator
- 153.371. Rights and Duties of Nonparent Appointed as Sole Managing Conservator
- 153.372. Nonparent Appointed as Joint Managing Conservator
- 153.3721. Access to Certain Records by Nonparent Joint Managing Conservator
- 153.373. Voluntary Surrender of Possession Rebuts Parental Presumption
- 153.374. Designation of Managing Conservator in Affidavit of Relinquishment
- 153.375. Annual Report by Nonparent Managing Conservator
- 153.376. Rights and Duties of Nonparent Possessory Conservator
- 153.377. Access to Child's Records
- Subchapter H. Rights of Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle
- Subchapter I. Prevention of International Parental Child Abduction
- Subchapter J. Rights of Siblings
- Subchapter K. Parenting Plan and Parenting Coordinator
- 153.601. Definitions
- 153.602. Parenting Plan Not Required in Temporary Order
- 153.603. Requirement of Parenting Plan in Final Order
- 153.6031. Exception to Dispute Resolution Process Requirement
- 153.605. Appointment of Parenting Coordinator
- 153.606. Duties of Parenting Coordinator
- 153.607. Removal of Parenting Coordinator
- 153.608. Report of Parenting Coordinator
- 153.609. Compensation of Parenting Coordinator
- 153.610. Qualifications of Parenting Coordinator
- 153.611. Exception for Certain Title IV-D Proceedings
- Subchapter A. General Provisions
- Chapter 154. Child Support
- Subchapter A. Court-Ordered Child Support
- 154.001. Support of Child
- 154.003. Manner of Payment
- 154.008. Provision for Medical Support
- 154.009. Retroactive Child Support
- 154.017. Employment Services-Related Orders for Unemployed and Underemployed Obligors
- 154.061. Computing Net Monthly Income
- 154.062. Net Resources
- 154.122. Application of Guidelines Rebuttably Presumed in Best Interest of Child
- 154.131. Retroactive Child Support
- Subchapter A. Court-Ordered Child Support
- Chapter 155. Continuing, Exclusive Jurisdiction; Transfer
- Chapter 156. Modification
- Subchapter B. Modification of Conservatorship, Possession and Access, or Determination of Residence
- 156.101. Grounds for Modification of Order Establishing Conservatorship or Possession and Access
- 156.102. Modification of Exclusive Right to Determine Primary Residence of Child Within One Year of Order
- 156.104. Modification of Order on Conviction for Child Abuse; Penalty
- 156.1045. Modification of Order on Conviction for Family Violence
- 156.105. Modification of Order Based on Military Deployment
- Subchapter E. Modification of Child Support
- Subchapter B. Modification of Conservatorship, Possession and Access, or Determination of Residence
- Chapter 160. Uniform Parentage Act
- Chapter 161. Termination of the parent-child relationship
- Subtitle E. Protection of the Child
- Subtitle A. General Provisions
- Penal Code
- Title 1. Introductory Provisions
- Title 3. Punishments
- Title 4. Inchoate Offenses
- Title 5. Offenses Against the Person
- Chapter 20. Kidnapping and Unlawful Restraint
- Chapter 20A. Trafficking of Persons
- Chapter 21. Sexual Offenses
- 21.02. Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Child or Disabled Individual
- 21.08. Indecent Exposure
- 21.11. Indecency With a Child
- 21.15. Invasive Visual Recording
- 21.16. Unlawful Disclosure or Promotion of Intimate Visual Material
- 21.165. Unlawful Production or Distribution of Certain Sexually Explicit Videos
- 21.17. Voyeurism
- 21.18. Sexual Coercion
- 21.19. Unlawful Electronic Transmission of Sexually Explicit Visual Material
- Chapter 22. Assaultive Offenses
- Title 6. Offenses Against the Family
- Title 7. Offenses Against Property
- Title 9. Offenses Against Public Order and Decency
- Title 10. Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, and Morals
- Property Code
- Code of Criminal Procedure
- Title 1. Code of Criminal Procedure of 1965
