There can sometimes be debates over paternity if it is unclear who a child’s father really is. For instance, a man may be ordered to pay child support but contest that he is not actually the child’s father. Another example could be if a man wants to get custody so he can spend time with his child, but the mother says that he is not the father and does not deserve to have custody rights or any other parental rights.
The solution to this is to use a paternity test. In the past, determining parentage was very difficult, but modern technology has made it much easier. Modern genetic testing just looks at a person’s DNA. These tests can be over 99% accurate. When courts see a case involving paternity questions, they will often simply order that a paternity test be used, and that can help to settle the matter.
What if you took a home paternity test?
It is possible to buy home paternity tests. Some couples will do this if they are in disagreement and they want to find solutions. This may be done with a cheek swab or other types of DNA samples.
While taking this test is fine, the main thing to remember is that it typically cannot be used in court. You need to take a test at an approved facility or laboratory. Otherwise, the court does not know if the test was administered correctly or if the right person even took that paternity test to begin with. By doing it in a lab, the results are more trustworthy and can be used in court rulings.
Determining paternity
Are you facing questions over paternity that could impact child support or child custody? Be sure you know what legal steps you need to take moving forward.