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…