The Dallas Morning News reports that the state of Texas currently ranks number 3 when it comes to the rate of teenage births and ranks number 4 when it comes to the teen pregnancy rate.
In 2005, studies showed that there were approximately 88 Texas pregnancies per 1,000 females ages 15 through 19, compared with the national average of 69.5 pregnancies per 1000 teenage females. In addition to the Lone Star state, Nevada, Arizona, Mississippi and New Mexico have also had a history of high teen pregnancy rates and teen birth rates. For more detailed information about teenage pregnancies in the U.S, see the data from the Guttmacher Institute.
Texas family law attorneys say that teenagers who choose to have children may face many legal issues. It can be difficult for Texan teenagers to get married under the age of 18, unless both parties have parental consent. And having a baby out of wedlock can of course lead to cases regarding child custody and child support.
Yet all birth mothers, including teenagers, have the right to have and raise children unless they give authorities a reason to remove the children from a home, according to FindLaw. So even with the potential problems of child custody and child support, most pregnant teenage girls choose to go through with the birth of their child. Just like adults, teenagers have access to Texas family law attorneys that can help mothers understand their legal rights when it comes to child custody and child support. If you have a question about child support or child custody, please visit our Related Resources links.
Related Resources:
- Should Pregnant High School Students Receive Maternity Leave? (FindLaw)
- How to Get Custody (FindLaw)
- Child Support Basics (FindLaw)
- Browse Through Texas Family Law Attorneys (FindLaw)
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