Does a dad have any rights to a child if he is not the blood father ?

A free start is to contact the OAG (office of Attorney General). They are very busy over established parental rights but just call, give details & ask them for advice.

Premise is that you have an established father-child relationship. Texas is a good state for wanting to protect childhood mentality & bonds.

Can even call CPS, explain that you have established relationship with children as their father & are now being denyed access to children b/c of new relationship. (Do NOT mention anything about lesbian relationship or you look like homophobe & may be speaking with a lesbian worker. Only correct if they make false assumption about new male partner. Just clarify she's female. You want to keep focus on kids & not on new relationship.)

Anyway, just tell them that you are concerned how this will mentally affect children to not have contact or at the very least closure with you. If they say there are no laws, explain, you are not seeking law enforcement, only their advice, if this was their child, on how you can best support them emotionally.

Is it not possible to have a reasonable talk with your ex-wife focussing on what's best for the children?

How about proposing your own written contract that you'd send a certain amount of child support per visitations. I'm thinking the new partner is threatened by there being continued contact with ex-wife. Assure that you'd be glad to travel (or pay for travel) & have all switches go through partner or at local P.D. lobby where there need not be any discussion between parties. Can hand off children with a note describing any information, health, current events, that you'd need to know while children in your custody.

In time, new couple may appreciate being paid $20 per day of visit & the time alone being a couple.

Get creative if dialog is open. Can have an attorney formalize any agreements you come to if you both wish.

As for laws, yes, can go that route but it is expensive & would really have to rely on a lot of the children's testimony to judge.

Did you never legally adopt the kids? That will make a difference - if you were legally married and acted like a father to the kids you may actually be able to.

If it happened since you split I'm guessing no.

How you would enforce a ruling I'm not sure.

I think you need an attorney or to visit the local courthouse - I think a court may have a lot of sympathy for your situation especially in Texas.

Good luck.

You might.

Texas is one of the few states that also offer step parent rights if it is in the best interest of the child/children.

This is a tough battle to win, and could well be expensive.

Contact a BOARD CERTIFIED family lawyer in your area, they can tell you where to start and advise if you even have a case.

Maybe.

If the court finds that a "father-child relationship" had been formed, then they may be willing to grant you parental rights. (Bear in mind that this will also carry parental obligations - i.e.child support.

Richard

most likely yes. But not full rights.

Did you adopt them as your own? If not then no I dont think you have any rights.