The Most Common Reasons To Use A DNA Paternity Test

There are several reasons why a person would want to perform a DNA paternity test. The most commonly known is to prove whether or not a particular person is the father of a child, especially in cases where this is disputed.  A paternity dispute, however, is not the only reason that a paternity test would be needed. There are many cases where a father may not dispute the fact but may still need proof for legal reasons.

If test results are to be used in a court of law, there are certain procedures to follow. The samples will need to be collected by a medical professional and your identification authenticated. If, however, the test is purely for peace of mind, then an at-home-test will suffice, whereby you take the samples yourself, in the comfort of your own home and send them into a lab of your choice.

Buccal swabs (oral swabs from the cheeks) are the generally acceptable DNA sample of choice for both legal and peace of mind tests, the main difference being the proof of identity in legal tests.

Most Common Reasons For Using A DNA Paternity Test

• If you have had a paternity suit filed against you then it is strongly recommended and often necessary to have paternity test done. You may not have been aware of the child in question or doubt the mothers claim. Many men in this situation can feel that they are only being named for financial reasons. There are also cases when a man is denied access to a child he believes is his. In all these cases, whether proving or disproving paternity, a DNA test will confirm any claims. 

• Matters of inheritance are another area where it can be very important to use a DNA paternity test. When a sibling suddenly appears to claim their share of a sizeable inheritance, though many end up being false some are not, and is wise to have a test to clear up any doubts. The same is also true if a child is making a claim against a mother's estate since DNA testing is not only the domain of men.

• Many cases involve children wanting to find their biological father; perhaps due to a divorce case when the mother is given sole custody, or after adoption. Children born through donor conception can also grow up wanting to know the identity of their biological parents; however, laws surrounding donor anonymity vary from country to country.

• Sibling tests come with their own problems. A DNA paternity test can show whether siblings share the same father, however, they would still need a paternity report to determine who that father is. Even in cases of twins, it cannot be assumed that they have the same father, since it is possible for a woman to release two eggs during ovulation which can then get fertilised by two different men.

• True identical twins must have the same father since they have identical genetic markers and come from the same egg. Identical twins, however, can face difficulties later in life if they are ever tested for the paternity of a child. Since they share the exact same DNA it would be impossible to say which twin was the father.

• In social security and insurance claims it can often be more convenient to use DNA evidence of paternity, especially if a father is deceased. It is quite common for a medical examiner to obtain DNA posthumously and would mean conclusive proof of paternity being presented in court.

These are the most common reasons for DNA paternity tests. Using an accredited lab will ensure a result of 99.9% probability, and is now common practice in a court of law.

easyDNA specialize in the provision of reliable, accurate and confidential DNA Paternity Testing , DNA Relationship Testing and DNA Forensic Testing to both the private and public sector. We operate through a network of offices covering a wide geographic area. We currently operate 12 offices around the world including Canada, U.S.A, Italy, Belgium, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. To contact us with further questions please email info@easydna.net