Texas Paternity and Parentage Resources

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When parents were never married, parentage usually has to be established before a court will set a schedule or an amount of support. In Texas that case is handled by the District Court, usually in the Family District Court.

Establishing parentage is what gives a father the standing to ask for time with his child, and it is what lets either parent ask the court for support. In many states the same case can settle parentage, the parenting schedule, and child support together.

Official Texas paternity resources

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Texas family law forms (official index) (Texas judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Texas family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms

Texas court self-help resources (Texas courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Texas family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.texaslawhelp.org

eFileTexas.gov (Tyler Technologies): Texas has one statewide e-filing system that works in every county, and people without lawyers are welcome to use it. E-filing is required for attorneys but optional for you, so paper filing with the district clerk also works. https://www.efiletexas.gov/

Texas child support guideline resources (texasattorneygeneral.gov): Official Texas child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support/child-support-calculator

Verified official Texas parentage documents

These official documents are used to establish or contest parentage in Texas.

Petition to Adjudicate Parentage (FM-Pat1-100), form FM-Pat1-100 (Paternity), official document: https://texaslawhelp.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/fm-pat1-100_paternity_establish_petition_english_petitioner_2.2.2024.pdf

Official link data for Texas was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Does signing the birth certificate settle everything?

A voluntary acknowledgment can establish parentage, but on its own it does not create a parenting schedule or a support order. Those come from a court case.

Can parentage, custody, and support be handled together?

In many states one case can cover all three. Check the official Texas forms and self-help material above to see how this state organizes it.