| (a) A man claiming to be the biological father and
the mother may establish paternity before or after the birth of their
child by voluntarily acknowledging paternity through a certified entity
providing such services. The mother and father must read the Acknowledgment
of Paternity form. In addition, both must listen to or view a video
presentation of the rights and responsibilities of a parent, and alternatives
to and legal consequences of acknowledging or denying paternity. Both
the mother and father, separately or together, must then complete
an Acknowledgment of Paternity form with the assistance of the certified
entity.
(b) Both mother and father must present to the certified
entity a valid driver license or another document (preferably a photo
I.D.) to verify identity.
(c) The certified entity is responsible for filing
the Acknowledgment of Paternity form with the Texas Department of
State Health Services, Vital Statistics Unit, and providing all signatories
with a copy of the form.
(d) The Office of the Attorney General shall designate
staff who are certified entities to assist any party who is outside
the state of Texas or is incarcerated in Texas and is unable to complete
an acknowledgment of paternity in person with a certified entity.
Certified entities should seek the assistance of the Office of the
Attorney General for completion of such acknowledgments of paternity.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §55.404 adopted to be effective April 23, 2000, 25 TexReg 3232; amended to be effective July 25, 2002, 27 TexReg 6501; amended to be effective March 5, 2008, 33 TexReg 1761; amended to be effective June 10, 2013, 38 TexReg 3526 |
