(a) An individual may not be adjudicated to be a parent unless the court has personal jurisdiction over the individual.
(b) A court of this state having jurisdiction to adjudicate parentage may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the guardian or conservator of the individual if the conditions in § 159.201 are satisfied.

Terms Used In Texas Family Code 160.604

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

(c) If the court lacks jurisdiction over one individual, the court:
(1) is not precluded from making an adjudication of parentage binding on another individual over whom the court has personal jurisdiction; and
(2) may not delay the adjudication described by Subdivision (1) solely due to the lack of jurisdiction.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Subchapter G Contents