Understanding Paternity Prior to any Testing Being Performed

by | May 5, 2015 | Lawyers and Law Firms

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It is not uncommon today for paternity testing to be a necessary component of any custody or child support hearing. Before you can fight to become a custodial parent, you need to make certain you are the actual parent. Likewise, if you are going to be ordered to pay child support, you want to know it is your responsibility to do so. Understanding Paternity is important when you are in the midst of these emotional types of battles.

A paternity test uses DNA to determine if a specific person is the parent of the child in question. DNA is collected from the suspected parent by rubbing a swab on the inside of the cheek and testing the cells that are collected. The testing is done in a certified lab and the results will generally be sent to the address from where the test was requested.

No paternity test will ever state that the person being tested is the parent with a 100 percent possibility. The most any lab will certify is 99.999 percent. The paternity test can include testing of the birth mother as well, or it can be of just the suspected father, commonly referred to as a “motherless paternity test.”

The cost of the test will often be charged to the person who has requested it and is not covered by health insurance plans. Less expensive at-home tests are available, but private testing results are not admissible in court.

Once paternity has been established, the mother or father can then proceed with whatever they are trying to achieve. Establishing paternity is usually done by the father to give them the ability to seek out custodial rights. When women are requesting this type of test it is often to force the father to pay child support.

Understanding Paternity is necessary for those who may have their lives changed by the result. It is important to discuss with your attorney what a positive paternity result could mean for you, but also what may happen should a negative result be returned. In both instances there could be serious legal consequences that could affect the lives of everyone involved for years to come.

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