Establishing Paternity: Twin Girls, Two Fathers

There’s an interesting case unfolding in New Jersey. It includes twin girls, one mother and now, apparently, two fathers. One of the more interesting factors is the rarity: or maybe not. Some in the medical and scientific fields say it could be more common, but DNA testing is not conducted in most cases. DNA expert Dr. Karl-Hanz Wurzinger that said one in every 13,000 reported paternity cases involving twins have different fathers. Here’s what happened: A mother of 2-year-old twins went to court in order to ensure child support from the father of her children. The Passaic County Board of Social Services, as a matter of routine, ordered a DNA test on the babies in order to establish paternity and child support. Everyone was surprised to learn that the named father is not the father of one twin. Many are asking: how could this happen? After the DNA results were returned, the mother testified that she had sexual intercourse with two men within a five day period. The process in which
http://boydfamilylaw.com/establishing-paternity-twin-girls-two-fathers/

Establishing Paternity in Texas

Many fathers wish to establish paternity for any number of reasons. It doesn’t always mean they suspect the child’s mother of cheating, but in Texas, men who are not legally married to the mother but wish to be recognized as the legal father must have paternity established. A DNA test is one way to accomplish that. Note: fathers can sign a legal document, Acknowledgment of Paternity in Texas that serves the same purpose. For some fathers, especially if the relationship is volatile, they may wish to seek DNA testing to further protect their relationship with their children. When a baby is born to married couples, the legalities of fatherhood are automatic. The husband is called the presumed father and has the same legal rights as the mother. There are a number of reasons unmarried Texas fathers would seek DNA testing. It allows their name to go on the birth certificate, it provides a legal bond that protects the relationship, and it also ensures their rights are protected regarding
http://boydfamilylaw.com/establishing-paternity-in-texas/

How Do I Adopt a Step-Child?

With nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce in this country, and with the odds of remarriage even higher, many of our kids across the country find themselves with new step-parents and step-siblings. Ideally, blended families adjust and become a solid, functioning and healthy unit. This can include one parent adopting his or her step-child. It’s an important decision and one parents take seriously. After all, by adopting a step-child, you’re showing you have faith in a second or third marriage that has even higher odds of breaking apart than first marriages. Like all things in life, it’s a leap of faith. Adopting a Step-Child Did you know adopting a step-child is the most common adoption process in the U.S? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, close to 7 percent of children are adopted by a step parent, which is essentially twice as many children adopted by both parents. According to statistics, in Texas, more than 5 percent of children are in households with a stepparent
http://boydfamilylaw.com/how-do-i-adopt-a-step-child/

Is There Real Progress in the Fathers’ Rights Movement?

From a legal perspective, I tend to get a bit tunnel-visioned – and that’s good. It means I’m doing my job as a family law attorney. But it also means I have to pay attention to what’s going unfolding outside the legal ring. That means taking a step back and changing my perspective a bit, especially if I’m going to be objective in my efforts. This past weekend was a perfect opportunity for me to do that. What I found was both troubling and hopeful, depending on the source. Sometimes, a look to the past can provide real perspective on what’s unfolding in our society. Unfortunately, it’s not always a positive realization. In 2001, a freelance writer, Rob Okun, wrote a piece for WENews, a popular site for women. In his column, he wrote, “Mothers of all persuasions deserve a lot of credit for opening up the parenting circle wide enough to let fathers in. After all, raising children has long been seen as a woman s domain, not to be encroached upon by the masculine hand that
http://boydfamilylaw.com/is-there-real-progress-in-the-fathers-rights-movement/