Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · SUBTITLE B. SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · CHAPTER 160. UNIFORM PARENTAGE ACT
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 160.304 (2026)

Rules For Acknowledgment And Denial Of Paternity

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 160.304. RULES FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DENIAL OF PATERNITY. (a) An acknowledgment of paternity and a denial of paternity may be contained in a single document or in different documents and may be filed separately or simultaneously. If the acknowledgment and denial are both necessary, neither document is valid until both documents are filed.

(b) An acknowledgment of paternity or a denial of paternity may be signed before the birth of the child.

(c) Subject to Subsection (a), an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity takes effect on the date of the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the vital statistics unit, whichever occurs later.

(d) An acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity signed by a minor is valid if it otherwise complies with this chapter.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 821, Sec. 1.01, eff. June 14, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.057, eff. April 2, 2015.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2005–2026 · leading case: In Re Off. of Attorney Gen. of Tex., 272 S.W.3d 773 (Tex. App. 2008).
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In Re Off. of Attorney Gen. of Tex., 272 S.W.3d 773 (Tex. App. 2008). “308, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the bureau of vital statistics is the equivalent of an adjudication of the paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father all rights and duties of a parent.”
In Re C.S., Relator, 277 S.W.3d 82 (Tex. App. 2009). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.304(c) (Vernon 2002).”
In Re Cs, 277 S.W.3d 82 (Tex. App. 2009). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.304(c) (Vernon 2002).”
In Re E.R.F. v. the State of Texas (2026). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.304(c). “[A] valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the vital statistics unit is the equivalent of an adjudication of the paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father all rights and duties of a parent” unless the acknowledgement has been…”
Debra Lee Jones v. State (Tex. App. 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.304 (c) (Vernon 2002 ).”
Joshua Ludy v. State (Tex. App. 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.304 (c) (Vernon 2002 ).”
in Re C. S., Relator (Tex. App. 2009). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.304 (c) (Vernon 2002 ).”
in Re C. S., Relator (Tex. App. 2009). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.304 (c) (Vernon 2002).”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 160.304(c) — 4 cases
In Re Off. of Attorney Gen. of Tex., 272 S.W.3d 773 (Tex. App. 2008). “308, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the bureau of vital statistics is the equivalent of an adjudication of the paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father all rights and duties of a parent.”
In Re C.S., Relator, 277 S.W.3d 82 (Tex. App. 2009). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.304(c) (Vernon 2002).”
In Re Cs, 277 S.W.3d 82 (Tex. App. 2009). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.304(c) (Vernon 2002).”
In Re E.R.F. v. the State of Texas (2026). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.304(c). “[A] valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the vital statistics unit is the equivalent of an adjudication of the paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father all rights and duties of a parent” unless the acknowledgement has been…”
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