Similar to at at-home test, a legal paternity test relies on swabs of DNA taken from inside of the mouth. The main difference with this particular type of testing is that it is administered and overseen by a professional collector. Identification is also required by all parties involved.
Paternal Results that Are Admissible in Court
What makes a legal paternity test different than one that can be taken from a kit at home is the ability to admit the evidence in court. This particular test offers strong DNA proof and can be used as evidence in cases revolving around divorce and child support. It offers a genetic fingerprint to determine who the true biological father is. The people identified as the biological parents are then held legally responsible for the child.
Can Paternity Testing Be Contested in Court?
Occasional there are court cases in which the paternity is contested. This can occur for several reasons, according to legal match”, which can include times when the alleged father provides proof of infertility, suspicion of fraudulent activity during the testing, or when the results have been altered in some way.
Is the Mother’s Sample Needed?
The mother’s DNA sample is not necessary to perform a paternity test to identity the father, but it does help. Having her DNA on file allows the lab technicians to rule her part of the DNA out of the child’s and makes it easier to identify what DNA matches that of the father.
The History of Paternity Tests and Their Accuracy
The paternity tests available today are far more accurate than anything we’ve had in the past, with 99.9 percent accuracy rates. This wasn’t always the case. The first form of a paternity test was made available in the 1920s and since it involved blood type testing, it only ruled out 30 percent of men on a whole. The 1930s brought blood and body fluid tests, the 1960s brought genetic paternity testing and the 1970s brought isolated restriction enzyme testing. With each decade and development he testing was better and provided much more accurate results.
Health Reason for a Paternity Test
Just like adopted children who have rights to their biological parent’s health information, children who are not entirely sure who their real father is have a right to know what health issues they may inherit. “Parents and their children should know about potentially inherited health problems,” according to the Indiana Department of Child Services. “Establishing paternity provides the child a greater likelihood of having access to this information.”
Whether a legal paternity test is court ordered or not, the results are believed to be accurate and are able to be used in court to determine parenting time and child support payments. Although the parties involved may already know who the biological parents are, this tests provides legal proof of it.
