|
People use DNA paternity tests for many reasons; whether to settle a paternity dispute or simply as proof for legal reasons, it is now the most conclusive and scientific way to establish what biological relationship exists between a man and a child.
Depending on what the results of a DNA paternity test are to be used for, will determine the type of paternity test one needs. If test results need to be used in a court of law, then there are certain procedures to follow regarding the collection of samples. For legal paternity tests, samples need to be collected by a medical professional and identification must be 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.
The 5 Most Common Reasons
- If a man has a paternity suit filed against him then it is strongly recommended and often necessary to have a paternity test done. Often, they will be unaware of the child in question and they may dispute paternity. Some men in this situation feel they are only being named for financial reasons and need clarification. 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.
- Inheritance cases are another area where it can be very important to use a DNA paternity test. If an unknown or unrecognised sibling suddenly appears to stake a claim in an inheritance, though many claims end up being false some are not, and is recommended to have a DNA 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 tests are conducted by children wanting to find their biological fathers. Whether separated due to a divorce case when the mother is given sole custody, or after adoption, many grow up wanting to know the identity of their biological parents. Children born through donor conception can also grow up wanting to know their “birth’’ father, however, laws surrounding donor anonymity vary from country to country making this very difficult at times.
- Sibling tests are also quite common but come with some drawbacks. Although a DNA paternity test can show whether siblings share the same father, they would still need a paternity report to determine who that father is. In cases of twins, it can never be assumed that they have the same father, since it is possible for a woman to release two eggs during ovulation, each of which can then get fertilised by different men.
- Only true identical twins are guaranteed to 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 scientifically 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 in cases where a father is deceased. A medical examiner is able to obtain DNA posthumously and can perform a paternity test would could then be presented at a court hearing.
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 offers a comprehensive range of DNA Testing services, designed to shed light on most of today’s identity issues. We are here to provide reliable, accurate and confidential DNA Paternity Testing, DNA Relationship Testing and DNA Forensic Testing to both the public and private sector. We operate through a network of offices covering a wide geographic area. We currently operate 12 offices worldwide 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
|
