Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Re: do I owe

Your problem is rather complex.

I strongly urge you talk to a family law attorney in your area. You need to be prepared in case she decides to pursue this matter.

If another man has been declared by a court to be the child's father, then he is the legal father of the teen-ager.

I would also be very concerned for the child's emotional well-being. A teen-ager might be crushed to learn that the man he thought was his father is not his bio. father.

I would not anything (like meet the kid) until a DNA test had been done.

I would insist that the child and his mother go to a therapist for counseling. I would then use the same therapist to learn how to handle this situation. Of course, your wife and your other children might also need to attend counseling regarding this difficult and sensative matter.

You can't be ordered to pay 16 years of support for a child you just learned about.

Many courts will not order DNA testing and involve you since there is a "father" of this child already declared by a court.

Your problem occurs often - usually after a divorce and the mother want to "hurt" the ex-husband. Unfortunately, it usually hurts the children the most.

Warning - this woman might be mentally unstable and might think she can get back with you since she has "your" child. Hopefully, she won't attempt to contact your other children so they can "meet" their brother. I've heard some nightmare stories!

please don't do anything without an attorney.