If you are are seeking a private method of DNA paternity testing, an at home test kit may be the best choice.  DNA paternity test kits allow for self-collection of materials, and can help avoid unnecessary confrontations or tensions that often occur with a legal DNA paternity testing.

If you are taking the DNA paternity test only for personal knowledge and do not plan on any immediate legal actions, an at home DNA paternity test is an easy and affordable option when compared to a legal DNA paternity test.  Both legal and at home DNA paternity tests have the same level of accuracy of results, but if you do not need the legal documentation, you can save yourself a bit of money by choosing an at home DNA paternity test.

Even if you may be seeking legal action, home DNA paternity test may be the best choice for you initially. Many choose to use an at home DNA paternity test to help prove or disprove any doubts about paternity prior to obtaining a legal DNA paternity test.

At home DNA paternity test kits are also easily available online or over the counter, and provide quick results with minimum hassle.  Do make sure, however, when pricing your at home DNA paternity test that the price you are paying also includes obtaining the results (or find out how much extra the results will cost).  You should expect to pay in the $100-300 range for most at home paternity test kits.

There are many reasons to choose an at home DNA paternity test kit.  However, if you think legal DNA paternity testing may be the best choice for you, or if you are interested in obtaining or have been ordered to take a court ordered paternity test, please read the other articles at Legal DNA Paternity Testing for more information.

Related posts:

1. At Home Paternity Testing Kits
2. Home DNA Testing Kits

A court ordered paternity test is a DNA test that is administered according to the specifications of a court order.  In such tests, the possible or presumed father and child (and sometimes the mother) will undergo legal DNA paternity testing as mandated by the court order.

Why Would You Want a Court Ordered Paternity Test?

Fathers seeking visitation rights and mothers seeking child support are two frequent parties seeking a court ordered paternity test.   Government agencies may also want a court ordered paternity test administered to a presumed father in order to reimburse state or federal support and medical expenses being paid for a child.

How Do You Get a Court Ordered Paternity Test?

If you are interested in obtaining a court ordered paternity test, it is advisable to contact a lawyer you specializes in custody matters.   If you are unable to afford such a lawyer, check your local phone directory or look online for a legal aid clinic in your area, or a lawyer who is willing to work “pro bono” on such issues.  If this fails, contact your state’s attorney general’s office.  This is the agency that is responsible for enforcing child support orders and collecting child support payments.  It is in their interest to ensure that biological fathers are paying child support (which also means they are entitled to visitation rights), and they are likely to be able to provide some assistance in this matter.

How is a Court Ordered Paternity Test Taken?

Although in some rare cases a court ordered paternity test will be ordered while the child is still in the womb (often using the somewhat risky amniocentesis procedure), in general such tests will be administered after the infant is born.

A court ordered paternity test is a painless procedure (if done after the baby is born).  Generally it involves a cotton swab being rubbed on the inside of the mouth.  This testing will need to be done at a laboratory certified for legal DNA paternity testing by your state, and the court order may have additional requirements as well that will need to be met.

A court ordered paternity test has a high level of certainty regarding results.  Most legal DNA paternity tests provide a 99.99% level of accuracy when it comes to determining that a man is the biological father of a child, and 100% level of accuracy when it comes to excluding a man as father (determining that a man is not the father of a child).

What Other Options Do I Have for DNA Paternity Testing?

If you do not wish to involve the courts in a paternity dispute, there are also at home paternity testing kits that can be purchased over the counter.  These kits have no legal enforcement, but they are as accurate as a court ordered paternity test and can help answer lingering questions and help resolved disputes regarding paternity outside a court setting.

For further information about court ordered paternity tests and legal DNA paternity testing, please return to the Legal DNA Paternity Testing homepage.

Related posts:

1. How to Get a Court Ordered Paternity Test
2. Legal DNA Paternity Testing

What is a legal DNA paternity test?

Legal DNA paternity testing involves using DNA analysis to provide a conclusive and documented test which will determine whether a man is a biological father of a child.  In order for the DNA paternity test to be legal, this will need to be done by an accredited laboratory (unlike at home paternity tests, which have no legal basis in court). The results of a legal DNA paternity test will be notarized and legally defensible in court and will be acceptable proof of paternity (or not) for other government agencies.

How is legal DNA paternity testing conducted?

For a legal DNA paternity test, a lab technician will be collecting DNA samples from the possible father and child involved.  Some laboratories will also want a DNA sample from the mother as well, while others can also perform “motherless tests” (some courts may require that the mother participates in the DNA testing).  This DNA collection is absolutely painless, and generally involves wiping a cotton-like swab against the inside of mouth of the tested party.

How accurate is legal DNA paternity testing?

Very accurate.  Results generally have a 99.99% level of probability or even higher when determining a man is the father of a child, and 100% reliability when determining a man is not the father of a child.

How expensive are legal DNA paternity tests?

The cost will vary according to the laboratory, but in general legally certified DNA testing will run between $200-$500.

How do I set up a legal DNA paternity test?

There are many certified DNA paternity testing laboratories that advertise on the internet. When selecting a company, be sure that it has offices in your area, since you will need to make a personal visit to the laboratory for the test.

Is there anything else I should know?

Some states may have additional specific requirements when setting up a DNA paternity test.  For New York, a physician or an attorney must file a formal testing request with the laboratory you have selected prior to the DNA testing.

For additional information about legal DNA paternity testing, please return to the Legal DNA Paternity Testing Homepage.

Related posts:

1. Court Ordered Paternity Test: What You Need to Know
2. How to Get a Court Ordered Paternity Test