Texas HB154: Termination of the parent-child relationship and the duty to pay child support in circumstances involving mistaken paternity. This law, effective immediately, aims to further protect a mistaken father from certain child support payment obligations. This new law also amends the current law, SB785: Mistaken Paternity.

The new law states that a petition must be filed not later than the second anniversary of the date on which the petitioner becomes aware of the facts alleged in the petition indicating that the petitioner is not the child’s genetic father.

An order termination the parent-child relationship ends the petitioner’s obligation for future support of the child as of the date the order is rendered. Also the obligation to pay interest that accrues after that date on the basis of a child support arrearage or money judgment for a child support arrearage existing on that date.

Those obligations are enforceable until satisfied by any means available for the enforcement of child support other than contempt. This applies to the current law suit pending in a trial court on the effective date of this Act or filed on or after that date is affected.