Divorce Links - Paternity Resources

Paternity testing is a means of establishing fatherhood. If there is a question about whether a man is the biological father or not, a paternity test can clear up the matter. Either parent can seek a court order to determine parentage of a child. For a test to be admissible in court, the genetic test generally must be administered by a designated laboratory. The costs of such tests can be paid for by either parent or the court may order one parent to pay for the testing fees.

In situations where individuals just want to determine who the biological father is without having to go to court, home test can be utilized. Before you proceed, you need to realize that many of these tests aren't admissible in court. If you want to establish parenthood to initiate custody or child support orders, you're best bet is to get a court-ordered paternity test.

Below are some resources that give more information about the subject of paternity and paternity testing.

Paternity Resources

Establishing Paternity - There are many different methods of establishing paternity, which vary according to the individual laws of each state. One way is for a father to sign an agreement of parentage. Another is through a DNA test. Some states use the "presumption of paternity" if the child was born while a couple was married. Find out the other methods in which paternity can be legally established.

State Paternity Laws - Before you proceed with a paternity case, it's always a good idea to look up the paternity laws of your state to find out what is required to establish paternity and what the implications are if a man is determined to be the father of a child.

Paternity and Support - In some situations, paternity testing is needed in order to establish the child support obligations. Will a father owe child support if DNA tests show he's not the biological father? Find out what is considered in the decision and read through previous questions and answers from the legal expert.

DNA Testing from DNA Diagnostic Center uses buccal (inside the cheek) swab samples to determine parentage, testing for 16 different markers. They are accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks and follow a strict protocol for handling the samples.

For home paternity tests, they will ship you the collection kit so you can take the samples right in your own home. You'll receive everything needed for collecting the samples, along with instructions and a pre-paid envelop to send the samples back to the lab. For legal paternity tests, you will have the DNA samples taken at a certified facility such as the health department, a medical office, or a hospital. The also offer non-invasive prenatal paternity testing. If you want to confirm your suspicions privately and discreetly, this is a really good service.