Hays County, TX · Free Consultation
San Marcos, TX Father's Rights Lawyer
What Our Clients Say
A father can lose his child to adoption before he even knows a case exists — unless he has protected himself. In San Marcos, SMB Law, PC helps fathers use the paternity registry and act in time to preserve their rights. A San Marcos father’s rights lawyer knows the paternity registry and the short deadlines that can otherwise cost a father his child to adoption. Shane has been licensed since 2003 and personally makes sure fathers act in time.
San Marcos fathers who are unsure whether a pregnancy will involve them are rarely told about the one filing that can protect their rights if the child is placed for adoption.
Where a San Marcos paternity case is handled
San Marcos is the seat of Hays County, so a suit to establish paternity or contest a termination is filed with the Hays County District Clerk at the Government Center in San Marcos.
The paternity registry and protecting your rights
Texas maintains a paternity registry that exists precisely to protect a man who may be a father but is not married to the mother and has not yet established paternity. By registering — which can be done before the birth or within a short window after — a man asks to be notified of any proceeding to place the child for adoption or terminate parental rights, giving him the chance to step forward and assert his rights. The stakes are high: an alleged father who does not establish paternity, register, or otherwise appear can have his rights terminated without personal notice, and the adoption can proceed. The windows are short and unforgiving, which is why a man who thinks he may be the father should act immediately rather than wait to be told. We help San Marcos fathers register, move quickly to establish paternity, and contest a termination or adoption that is proceeding without them, so a father is not erased by a deadline he never knew about.
Why speed matters more than certainty
The hardest lesson for San Marcos fathers in these cases is that hesitation is itself a decision. A man who waits — because he is not sure the child is his, because the relationship is uncertain, because he hopes things will work out — can find that the law has already moved on without him. The registry and the paternity deadlines are designed to give finality to adoptions, which means they cut against the father who did nothing, even for understandable reasons. Our advice is consistent: if there is a real possibility you are the father and an adoption or termination could be in play, register and establish paternity now, while you still can, and sort out certainty afterward through genetic testing. Acting early costs little and preserves every option; waiting can foreclose them permanently. We help San Marcos fathers take the protective steps immediately and, where a case is already moving, intervene before the window closes.
Working with us from San Marcos
Our office is about 30 miles northeast in downtown Austin via I-35. We handle most San Marcos paternity matters by phone, video, and e-signature.
At SMB Law, PC you work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. We explain things in plain English, give you a plan instead of more stress, and keep you informed from your first confidential consultation through final resolution.
Why fathers choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- Honest advice — we tell you what the law actually gives you, not what you want to hear.
- Transparent fees explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Confidential consultation to understand your situation and your goals as a father.
- Paternity and rights established or confirmed so you have legal standing.
- Negotiation or court to secure conservatorship and real, workable time with your child.
- An order that protects your relationship and can be enforced.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Texas paternity registry?
It lets a possible father register to be notified of any adoption or termination proceeding involving the child, protecting his chance to assert rights.
Can my rights be terminated without notice?
An alleged father who does not establish paternity, register, or appear can have his rights ended and the adoption proceed without personal notice.
When do I need to register?
The windows are short — generally before the birth or a brief period after — so a possible father should act immediately, not wait.
Where is a San Marcos paternity case filed?
With the Hays County District Clerk at the Government Center in San Marcos.