All About Legal Paternity Testing

By Lora Jones


There are many reasons why people want to undergo legal paternity testing. Some want to confirm who their real father is while others just want to get rid of the doubt and confusion. Whatever the reason, the results can make a lot of difference.

The test is based on dna or deoxyribonucleic acid, which contains a persons genetic material. Each individual has his own unique set of dna. If this is analyzed for markers and then compared to another sample, then one can determine if the individuals are related or not. The results from this test are reputed to have a high degree of accuracy.

If you want to get someone tested, then there are options. One would be to purchase a kit from a store and then send this samples to a lab. The kit will not cost you over a hundred dollars but you will still need to pay for the processing at the lab. The cost is one of the things that you should thoroughly discuss with the company in consideration.

The test can be done casually, such as when you just want to confirm the parentage of the child. However, when the results are to be used for legal transactions, then the test will be much more expensive. The procedure for the test will also be different since there are measures to be followed to ensure that the samples are not tampered with.

If you want the test to be admissible in court, then the cost will be higher. Settling for a home test however does not mean that you the accuracy of the test is going to be affected. The lab will still be following the same process for testing those samples.

There are many circumstances that can induce the need for an official test. An adoption for example may have to get this confirmation. If you stand to inherit some properties and there is still some doubt about who your father is, then the test may be required.

When a test has to be admissible in court, then an authorized party should be present for collection. The individuals involved will have to provide proof that they are indeed the persons that are to be tested. The facility will need premium equipment and skilled personnel to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the processing of the samples.

Tests can either be conducted at your own home or you can go to a facility to get tested. There is a waiting period before you can get those results and the length of this period may differ among facilities. You have to consider the location of the individuals especially if they are not in the same area. You will also have to schedule when the samples will be taken.

Legal paternity testing is done to verify who is the father of a child. The use of dna in this type of tests means that the results are highly accurate. When the results are to be legally binding, the integrity of the process, from start to finish will be ensured. This is more expensive compared to those that are only being done for peace of mind.




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