Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
(SAPCR)
Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
(SAPCR)
This website only contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Zariah A'londra Tax and Legal Services is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.
(SAPCR) I need a custody order. I am the child's parent.
This toolkit tells you how to ask for a custody, visitation, child support, medical support, and dental support order if:
(1) you and the other parent are not married (or don’t want a divorce),
(2) you and the other parent have signed an “Acknowledgment of Paternity,” and
(3) there are no existing court orders about your child.
What You Need to Know About Filing a SAPCR
A Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, or SAPCR, is essentially a legal request for visitation, child custody, child support, or any other order which will impact the interests of a child. Due to the high-stakes nature of these requests, it is crucial for parents to be adequately prepared before they start the SAPCR process.
Who Can File a SAPCR?
Although Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship most commonly involve the birth parents of the child, there are a variety of other parties who may also have legal standing for such a claim. These parties include, but are not limited to:
The child’s legal guardian
The Best Interests of the Child
As previously mentioned, the best interests of the child will be the determining factor in ordering or rejecting a SAPCR. This is a somewhat subjective decision that must be made by the judge, but there are a set of factors the court will look at when making their determination. These factors include, among others:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a SAPCR case and a paternity case?
A SAPCR case asks a judge to make a custody, visitation, child support, medical support, and dental support order for your child.
A paternity case can ask a judge to make a custody, visitation, child support, medical support, and dental support order for a child AND establish paternity (name the legal father of your child).
Is my SAPCR contested or uncontested?
Zariah A'londra Legal service LLC has instructions for uncontested Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCRs). Your SAPCR is uncontested if it can be finished by agreement or by default.
I need custody, visitation, and support order for my child. The other parent and I are not married. Should I file a SAPCR case or a paternity case?
If you and the other parent have signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity, you should usually file a SAPCR case. The legal father of your child is already named in the Acknowledgment of Paternity.
If you and the other parent have not signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity, you should usually file a paternity case. A paternity case will ask the judge to establish paternity (name the legal father of your child) AND make custody, visitation, child support, and medical support orders.
Use this toolkit if you want to file a paternity case: I need a paternity order.
Can I file my SAPCR case in Texas?
You can file a SAPCR case in Texas if:
There are a few exceptions to this rule. Talk with a lawyer if this is an issue. Contact Us so we can link you with one of our friendly attorneys. 888-222-7504.
What is an Acknowledgment of Paternity?
An Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) is a legal form signed by a man and the child’s mother that states (under penalty of perjury) that the man is the child’s genetic father. An AOP is usually used when the parents aren’t married but agree on the identity of the child’s father. When the completed AOP is filed with the Texas Vital Statistics Unit, the genetic father becomes the child’s legal father with all the rights and duties of a parent.
**Exception: If the child’s mother is married to someone else when the child is born (or the child is born within 300 days of the date of divorce) then the husband (or ex-husband) is the child’s presumed father. You cannot use the AOP form to establish paternity unless the presumed father also signs a Denial of Paternity (DOP).
How do I get a copy of an Acknowledgment of Paternity?
You will need a copy of the Acknowledgment of Paternity form for your SAPCR case.
What if the other parent doesn’t live in Texas?
If the other parent lives out of state, you can still file your SAPCR case in Texas if:
Where should I file my SAPCR case?
You must file a SAPCR case in the Texas county where the child lives.
We also provide instructions and legal documents if you are not the child's parent.
Click to purchase your SAPCR instructions and legal kit today!
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