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.

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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.

With a home DNA paternity test kit, you will have the advantage of keeping your DNA testing for paternity confidential and discrete.  A home DNA paternity test is ideal for individuals who wish to do a paternity test but do not want to create undo tension, especially if the results do not conflict with what is expected.

An at home DNA paternity test kit can easily be purchased online (often the best deal), or over the counter in certain pharmacies.  You will be able to choose between a buccal swab DNA paternity test or a hair home DNA paternity test.  With the buccal swab kit, a cotton like swab is rubbed on the inside of the mouth of the individuals being tested, while with a hair DNA paternity test three or more pieces of hair are needed (entire lengths of hair from head, public or other regions are acceptable, but these hair pieces must contain the root portion – cut hair will not suffice).  With DNA testing for paternity kits, the possible father, child, and sometimes the biological mother are tested, and results are available from one to three weeks depending on the test kit provider.

Legal DNA paternity testing is the best route to go if you are involved in legal motions involving child custody and support.  A legal DNA paternity test (or a court ordered paternity test) differ from home DNA paternity tests in that there is a third, impartial witness to the testing process involved, and some courts may require that the mother be tested as well as the presumed father and child.

With a legal DNA paternity test, the testing process will be monitored by a witness and the final results will be notarized and can be submitted as evidence in court or to appropriate government or state agencies (be sure, however, to check what the legal requirements are for the state you live in, since this can vary).

Home DNA paternity test kits tend to be a bit more cheaper than legal DNA paternity testing.  An at home DNA paternity test usually runs less than $300, while a court ordered or legal DNA paternity test can cost up to $500.

DNA testing for paternity can be a very emotionally charged process.  Careful thought and choice should be given as to which variety of DNA testing for paternity is right given the circumstances at hand.  For more information about DNA testing for paternity, please visit the Legal DNA Paternity Testing website.

There are two kinds of home paternity testing kits that most consumers will encounter when shopping online or in stores.  The first is known as a “buccal swab analysis” and the second is hair sample analysis.

With a buccal swab, a cotton like swab is rubbed on the inside of the mouth to collect cells that are then sent to a laboratory for analysis.  For hair DNA analysis, a full length of hair (including the root section) is sent to the laboratory.  This can be head, body or pubic hair, but it cannot be cut hair since this will not contain the root.  A typical hair sample DNA test will require you pluck three or more hairs from the person or persons being tested and place them in a coded sealed container.

Home DNA test kits can be used not only establish paternity but also for ancestry DNA testing, and for finding predisposition to certain diseases.  Most home DNA tests will take up to three weeks to obtain results.

Home DNA paternity tests are important devices when individuals or families seek to ascertain paternity in a confidential manner, but you should be aware that they have no legal standing in courts.  If you are interested in using your DNA results in a court case, you will need to have a legally certified DNA test conducted.

You can read more about legal DNA paternity testing, including information about court ordered paternity tests, at the Legal DNA Paternity Testing website.

In order to have a court order a paternity test, a court must have a reason to seek that paternity is established in a case.  Usually court ordered paternity tests are ordered when a man will not voluntarily agree to a legal paternity test, but the mother often must also provide reasonable evidence to justify an assertion that the man is indeed the father of the child.  This is often done by having the mother provide details under oath about her relationship with the man she is alleging is the father of the child, including providing dates of contact around the time of conception, as well as  any further contact during pregnancy and birth.  The court will be especially interested in any evidence of financial support provided by the alleged father for the child, cohabitation of the two individuals, and any other action that the man may have taken that suggests he may be the father of the child.

In some states, if a man has assumed responsibility for parenting a child and has acted as the father of the child, he may be legally responsible even if he is not the biological father of the child.  In other states, a man may not be obliged to care for any child not biologically related to him.

If a voluntary legal DNA paternity test or a court ordered paternity test determine a man is the father of a child, a order of child support will likely be issued and a visitation schedule and custody hearings will also be held to determine what arrangements are in the best interest of the child.

If you are interested in obtaining a court ordered paternity test, it is strongly suggested you consult a family lawyer prior to moving forward on any legal action.  Given the highly emotionally charged nature of custody and paternity hearings, having proper legal counsel is very important before proceeding.  If you are not able to afford a lawyer, you may want to check with a legal aid clinic in your area, or see if there are any family lawyers who offer their services pro bono in your area.

Court ordered paternity tests can provide valuable evidence of paternity when there is a legal dispute.  However, it may also be in your best interest to try to establish paternity outside of the court system if there is no pressing legal need to do so, or if paternity is very much in question.  In these cases, you may find that using a simple, at home DNA paternity test is much cheaper and easier than going through a court to get an order of paternity test.   For more information about legal DNA paternity testing and at home DNA tests please return to the Legal DNA Paternity Testing website.

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.

DNA paternity testing is a powerful tool in paternity disputes.  Modern day DNA tests can identify or exclude individuals with close to 100% accuracy.  If you would like to take a DNA paternity test to answer questions regarding paternity, you have two main options: a home paternity test kit or legal DNA paternity testing.  Both kinds of tests are highly accurate.

The advantages of using a home kit is that they are generally cheaper, results are quick and they are easily available over the counter.  Home kits are a useful DNA paternity test for those seeking certainty regarding paternity, but are not (currently) involved in legal proceedings regarding this issue.

If there are legal implications involved with the outcome of the paternity test, however, you will need to undergo legal DNA paternity testing.  This testing must be done by an accredited laboratory, and is generally done in person, although some companies may offer at home testing either by having one of their lab technicians make a ‘house call’ or by having some other impartial witness collect the samples and certify the test (you will need to make sure, however, that your state will accept results taken outside a laboratory).

There are many online companies that offer affordable at home DNA paternity test kits and who offer accredited legal DNA paternity testing.  When selecting a company for legal DNA paternity testing, you should ensure that the company has AABB accreditation and is certified to do such testing for the state you live in.

A DNA paternity test can cost anywhere in the range of $100-$500 depending on the provider and whether it is an at home test or a legally certifiable test.  When pricing a DNA paternity test, you should make sure that the cost involves both the collection materials and receiving the results (some companies offer a cheap price upfront for an at home DNA paternity test kit, but obtaining the actual results will cost considerably more).

By knowing your options regarding DNA paternity testing and making a careful selection of a DNA testing lab, you will be on the road to have your questions answered regarding paternity.  For more articles and answers to common questions regarding DNA paternity testing, visit the Legal DNA Paternity Testing homepage.

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.

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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.