Texas Senate Bill 785 was signed by Governor Rick Perry in early May after a long legislative battle spanning several years. Supporters of the law say that it’s needed since technological advances now allow the scientific community to prove paternity in most cases. Without the law, some men might be on the hook financially for children that are not their own.

Under the law, Texas fathers who discovery that they are not the biological parent of a child can ask the court to end child support obligations and terminate parental rights to the child through a petition in family court. Texas fathers who currently suspect they may not be the father have until September 1, 2012, to dispute paternity. Fathers who discover they may not be the father of their child have one year from the date of discovery to file a petition challenging paternity. After that, the father cannot dispute paternity.