The Importance Of Establishing Legal Paternity
In the last decade, the importance of establishing paternity has increased in value due to several legal developments regarding financial rights as well as medical-related issues of the child.
Different methods are used for determining the paternity of the child (or adult). Several critical reasons why the establishment of paternity for the child as well as the parents are important include one’s self-identity (peace of mind), rights to benefits, medical history, custody, and visitation, support etc., some of which are discussed here to stress its importance.
Self-identity:
Recent studies suggest that the father-son or father-daughter relationships strongly determine the behavioral changes that occur in the child while growing and the stronger the bond, the better it will be on the psychological wellbeing of the child. Studies suggest that the reassurance of paternity improves the bonding of this relationship in many ways. Children who know their biological fathers are found to be much more likely to develop a better social life than those who have doubts. Establishing paternity can strengthen the bond as well as build confidence in the child by remedying the self-identity crisis and providing peace of mind.
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Benefits Of Legal DNA Testing
While the maternal lineage of a child is implicit in most cases, it might not be the case when it comes to paternity which is the lineage of the father.
The Importance of Establishing Legal Paternity
Paternity DNA Tests are commonly used to determine whether an individual is the biological parent of a child. This is done by comparing the DNA of the child with the DNA profile of the alleged father.
Understanding the Downside Risks of “At-Home” Non-Legal Paternity Tests
For accurate paternity results you can count on within as little as three business days, turn to Test Smartly Labs for our American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) certified NIPP DNA test. You don’t have to wait until the baby is born, you can get a DNA test while pregnant that is safe for the mother and the pregnancy with results that are court-admissible.
The Importance Of Establishing Legal Paternity
Different methods are used for determining the paternity of the child (or adult). Several critical reasons why the establishment of paternity for the child as well as the parents are important, including one’s self-identity (peace of mind), rights to benefits, medical history, custody, and visitation, support, etc., some of which are discussed here to stress its importance.
Self-identity:
Recent studies suggest that the father-son or father-daughter relationships strongly determine the behavioral changes that occur in the child while growing and the stronger the bond, the better it will be on the psychological wellbeing of the child. Studies suggest that the reassurance of paternity improves the bonding of this relationship in many ways. Children who know their biological fathers are found to be much more likely to develop a better social life than those who have doubts. Establishing paternity can strengthen the bond as well as build confidence in the child by remedying the self-identity crisis and providing peace of mind.
Legal rights:
The legalities of determining the biological father of the child might not only benefit the child but also the mother and the actual or alleged father. In many cases, the child might not be entitled to the rights of inheritance, wealth, property, social security, etc., from their father if the paternity has not been established legally. For mothers, child support can be a huge help in raising a child as a single parent which can only be possible if the biological father of the child is legally proved, in which case, he would be entitled to support the child with expenses once the mother requests the child support. Regardless of the marital status of the father, he would be legally bound to support the child equally. On the other hand, the alleged father of the child by the mother would be free from all financial responsibilities of the child if the paternity is legally established and he is not the biological father. However, there are no implications if a person wants to support a child which is not biologically his. In the case of separated parents, the visitation or custodial rights of the biological father are also determined by the establishment of paternity. All these legal rights are only accessible once the paternity of the child has been established. Therefore, it is legally as well as beneficially important for the parents and the child to determine the biological father of the child.
Medical History:
Once a child knows his/her biological father, they will have access to all the medical history of both parents and thus can predetermine the vulnerabilities and predisposed harms or diseases that it might face in the future as a result of inherited genes. Also, complete medical insurance is only possible if the paternity of the child is established, and thus the medical history of the child and his or her both parents is accessible and known.
Be prepared for your DNA or Paternity Test!
- Bring Government Issued ID.
- Bring Birth Certificate for Child. If none, bring a social security card, insurance card, or something else to help support identification.
- Complete TSL Intake Form & HIPAA Disclosure.
- Provide Authorizations to Receive Results.
- Most DNA will require a Buccal Swab specimen from the mouth.
- Prenatal DNA will require a Blood Draw so you will want to by hydrated.
- Be prepared to have a photo taken of all parties being tested.
- Do not eat anything (particularly meat, vegetables and breast milk for infants) for an hour before arriving.
- You do not have to arrive together or go to the same Test Smartly. Labs Testing Center but do coordinate plans with all parties being tested.
What Are Your Hours?
- All Test Smartly Labs are open Monday through Friday, from 9am - 5pm
Do We Need To Have An Appointment?
- No appointment is required to come into our labs, and all of our locations are on a walk-in basis. However, it is recommended you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing. If your situation requires special time considerations, please call us to determine if it would be better to arrange an appointment time.
Do I Need Doctors’ Orders For Testing?
- No doctors’ orders needed, we are a Direct-Access Testing Center. You are encouraged to consult your medical professional with your lab test results.
What’s The Turnaround Time For Lab Work?
- Average turnaround time is 2-5 business days depending on the complexity of the lab work. Most tests are available in 2-3 days.
Do You Need A List Of My Medications For A Drug Test?
- Per protocol, the lab techs are not allowed to receive or ask for your medications. A medical review officer or MRO, a licensed physician who specializes in toxicology, will call you and ask for your medications and your physician’s phone number if it’s detected in your sample during testing. The MRO will then call your physician to verify your medications.
Legal rights:
The legalities of determining the biological father of the child might not only benefit the child but also the mother and the actual or alleged father. In many cases, the child might not be entitled to the rights of inheritance, wealth, property, social security, etc., from their father if the paternity has not been established legally. For mothers, child support can be a huge help in raising a child as a single parent which can only be possible if the biological father of the child is legally proved, in which case, he would be entitled to support the child with expenses once the mother requests the child support. Regardless of the marital status of the father, he would be legally bound to support the child equally. On the other hand, the alleged father of the child by the mother would be free from all financial responsibilities of the child if the paternity is legally established and he is not the biological father. However, there are no implications if a person wants to support a child which is not biologically his. In the case of separated parents, the visitation or custodial rights of the biological father are also determined by the establishment of paternity. All these legal rights are only accessible once the paternity of the child has been established. Therefore, it is legally as well as beneficially important for the parents and the child to determine the biological father of the child.
Medical History:
Once a child knows his/her biological father, they will have access to all the medical history of both parents and thus can predetermine the vulnerabilities and predisposed harms or diseases that it might face in the future as a result of inherited genes. Also, complete medical insurance is only possible if the paternity of the child is established and thus the medical history of the child and his or her both parents is accessible and known.
For the most accurate and affordable Paternity Testing, contact Test Smartly Labs…
Why is Chain of Custody so critical in Paternity Testing?
While the maternal lineage of a child is implicit in most cases, it might not be the case when it comes to paternity which is the lineage of the father. DNA Paternity testing is currently the most advanced and reliable technology to determine parentage, with an accuracy of 99.99% (it can even be performed while the woman is still pregnant from a blood draw known as pre-natal paternity)- and it is crucial when there are doubts or the rights and duties of the father are in question. If you find yourself in a similar situation, be it on the maternal side or the paternal side, you should already be fully aware that discussing paternity is an unsettling experience, especially when it’s in dispute. This article is meant to shed light on the legal course of action that should be followed when an individual seeks to settle such a conflict.
It's important to note that there are two types of paternity tests: legal and non-legal. The admissible version can be used in court, while the non-legal one involves performing the test in the privacy of your home by ordering a DNA kit from or a non-legal can also be done in a Testing Center. The latter is only relevant for personal knowledge and peace of mind, and cannot be used to support a case in court. If parental testing is needed for legal purposes such as immigration, custody, visitation, inheritance or child support the test must be made with a professional DNA lab testing company like Test Smartly Labs that has certified specimen collectors and partners with AABB accredited DNA laboratories.
Why DNA/Paternity Testing is so Important for All Involved…
In the United States, independent paternity testing is entirely legal, and it can be done without the consent or knowledge of the mother. However, more often than not, Court Ordered Paternity Testing is requested by mothers in cases when alleged fathers reject their legal obligations on the claim that they doubt their biological relationship with the child, declining their financial obligations. At the same time, we see instances of DNA tests ordered by said father to get visitation rights or obtain custody. Some people go to paternity tests in order to simply access the father’s medical history and gain knowledge of any potential hereditary medical issues.
In regards the non-legal paternity tests, as mentioned above, the motivation is usually highly personal. For a man and his relationship with the child, univocal and scientific proof of parentage (or the lack of it, for that matter), has lifelong consequences. This type of test, even though it’s not admissible in court, utilizes many of the same processes and genetic markers as legal tests but may test for fewer genetic markers and thus a cheaper price. Usually, “non-legal” or “Home Paternity Kits” appear on the surface to be slightly cheaper but depending on additional services such as overnight shipping or additional lab fees can drive the price up significantly. Most online advertising for Home DNA kits shows them at significant price discount, however, the buyer must be aware of the added costs associated with lab fees, shipping and additional supplies or kits if the specimen is inadequate. Of course, the main cost disadvantage is having to do the paternity test all over again with a Legal Paternity Chain-of-Custody Test once one party decides to settle things in court. In the end, it is usually cheaper and much advised to get a legal paternity test the first time for only a slight increase in price (maybe $30-$50 more) from a non-legal paternity. For peace of mind and professional collection utilizing chain-of-custody procedures we suggest using DNA Paternity professionals at Test Smartly Labs.
Chain of Custody Explained
The term „Chain of Custody” refers to the control of the DNA sample and it relates to Court Admissible DNA Tests, starting with the provision of the samples. In legal cases, a third party that has no connection with any of the individuals involved is assigned to ensure the identity of the subjects and collect their DNA samples. In such cases, the involved parties have to sign identification papers, the samples being delivered to the appointed location for testing with preventive measures taken to ensure that no tampering occurs. If all the procedures are followed accordingly, the laboratory can issue notarized results that can be used in court since the chain of custody should have been validated. Tampering with a paternity test or with its results is a fraud, and any individual that conducts it faces legal consequences associated with each state’s laws. In fewer words, Chain of Custody is made to ensure that the results are entirely reliable and impossible to manipulate.
When it comes to immigration, a DNA test may be required by the embassy to establish if the people sponsored by an individual to enter a country are related – the advances in these methods make it almost impossible to fool.
For all of your Paternity testing, contact Test Smartly Labs…
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