Society has changed, and the law has changed with it. Fathers are no longer seen as secondary parents, and the Texas legal system recognizes that a father's active involvement is critical to a child's well-being. Yet, many fathers still face significant challenges in asserting their parental rights. As your dedicated father's rights attorney in Houston, Hirani Law Firm is a powerful advocate for fathers who want to be fully present in their children's lives.
The Law Is Gender-Neutral
Texas family law is explicitly gender-neutral. A court cannot favor a mother over a father based solely on gender. The standard for all custody and visitation decisions is the 'best interest of the child,' and we use the law's equal footing to fight for your rights as a father.
Rights of Married vs. Unmarried Fathers
Married fathers are automatically presumed to be the legal father of children born during the marriage. Unmarried fathers must take proactive legal steps to establish their paternity and, therefore, their parental rights.
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity
Signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) form at the hospital is the simplest way for an unmarried father to establish legal paternity. However, this does not automatically establish custody or visitation rights.
Paternity Lawsuit (SAPCR)
To establish legal rights to custody and visitation, an unmarried father (or the mother) must file a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) with the court.
DNA Testing
In contested paternity cases, DNA testing can be ordered by the court to conclusively establish biological fatherhood.
Seeking Joint Managing Conservatorship
The ideal outcome in most cases is to be named a Joint Managing Conservator, giving you equal legal rights to make decisions about your child's life. We build strong cases for joint conservatorship.
Establishing a Fair Possession Schedule
Beyond legal rights, we fight for a possession and access (visitation) schedule that gives you meaningful, regular time with your children.
When the Mother Moves Away (Relocation)
If the other parent is threatening to move your child out of the area or out of state, we act quickly to file for a temporary restraining order and a hearing to protect your access to your child.
If Your Visitation is Being Denied
If the other parent is denying your court-ordered visitation, we file an enforcement motion and pursue all available legal remedies to restore your access.
Modifying Existing Orders
If an existing order doesn't give you fair time with your children, we can file a petition to modify the order based on a material and substantial change in circumstances.
We Believe Fathers Matter
We are genuine advocates for fathers' rights. We believe that children thrive when both parents are actively involved in their lives, and we fight for arrangements that reflect this.
Aggressive, Experienced Representation
We are skilled family law litigators who are not afraid to go to court to protect your parental rights.
Local Court Knowledge
Our experience in Houston and surrounding area courts gives us insight into how to effectively present a father's rights case locally.