Texas Family Code

§ 161.002 — TERMINATION OF THE RIGHTS OF AN ALLEGED BIOLOGICAL FATHER

FA § 161.002Title 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Part B. SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Ch. 161. TERMINATION OF THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Art. A. GROUNDS

Statute text

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(a)Except as otherwise provided by this section, the procedural and substantive standards for termination of parental rights apply to the termination of the rights of an alleged father.

(b)The rights of an alleged father may be terminated if:

(1)after being served with citation, he does not respond by timely filing an admission of paternity or a counterclaim for paternity under Chapter 160;

(2)the child is over one year of age at the time the petition for termination of the parent-child relationship or for adoption is filed, he has not registered with the paternity registry under Chapter 160, and after the exercise of due diligence by the petitioner:

(A)his identity and location are unknown; or

(B)his identity is known but he cannot be located;

…

Legislative history

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1283 (H.B. 3997), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.079, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.203(2), eff. April 2, 2015.