Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

My boyfriend and i broke up about a month ago. A week after we broke up i found out i was pregnant. After telling him the news he is now saying he is going to deny the child and tell everyone it is not his. I told him i was prepared to go to court, and he says he will refuse a paternity test and by law he doesnt legally have to take one, so the paternity will never be determined and will get away with never paying child support. Is this true can he refuse a paternity test if we go to court? I am nervous now that this may be true and i will not get help from him to take care of my baby. Please help me.


Asked on 8/03/10, 8:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

If your boyfriend ordered to take a DNA test and he refuses, he can be held in contempt (and fined and put in jail). This is covered by section 160.622 of the Texas Family Code.

If he is the father, he'll be paying child support for the next 18 years.

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Answered on 8/08/10, 10:23 am


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