DNA Establishes Legal Paternity Quickly And Accurately

While today, we don't give a second thought to determining legal paternity through DNA testing; at one time it wasn't even possible. There was no scientific form of legal paternity testing and people had to be taken on their word. Eye witnesses were used as back up proof whether they had high moral standing or were misguided.

Legal Paternity Testing In The Past

Previously, in order to determine legal paternity, a judge would sit the child and named father beside each other and compare their features. Comparing eye color was about as scientific as legal paternity testing got. The fact that a father and child could have no resemblance or that the pair could have the same eye color and not be related bore little weight in the decision process. Paternity was decided by a judge based largely upon appearances alone.

Modern Legal Paternity Testing

Thankfully those outdated methods of determining legal paternity are nothing more than a humorous look at the past. DNA testing has become the benchmark method for all legal proclamations when it comes to paternity issues. DNA testing itself has evolved over the years and it is a much simpler process than it once was. Legal paternity testing today is easy to do and accurate beyond dispute.

Popularity of DNA Legal Paternity Testing

Over 200,000 DNA legal paternity tests are carried out every year by legal authorities and the government in an effort to solve issues related to child support, welfare issues, and inheritances. Many people don't realize they can conduct legal paternity testing on their own at home.

Testing For Legal Paternity At Home

Paternity testing at-home is legal as long as an AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) - accredited DNA test is acquired. Testing can be accomplished even without a mother sample resulting in 99.99999 percent accuracy.

Odds Against Failure

At home legal paternity testing is so accurate that odds are one in one million you will get a wrong result. Most labs that do DNA legal paternity tests usually provide you with the kit for free. You pay after you collect the samples and return them for testing.

Collecting DNA With Mouth Swabs

Testing companies are fully aware that there's a great deal of discomfort drawing blood from children to get a DNA sample for legal paternity testing. Therefore, buccal (mouth) swabs of the inside cheeks are always accepted as alternatives. The process is to massage the inside of the child's mouth gently so cheek cells can be collected.

Mother's DNA Not Needed

DNA testing is accurate even without comparing it to the mother's DNA. Legal paternity testing requires at least sixteen genetic markers to match up between father and child. Since the child receives half of these markers from his father, the father's DNA is all that is required for comparison against the child's DNA. Labs that specialize in legal paternity issues usually return results within ten days and charge around $300 for a basic test.

Other Uses For DNA Tests

DNA testing has many related uses in determining familial relationships. For example, DNA tests can detect siblings, grandparents, and cousins. It can differentiate between identical or fraternal twins. It can determine ancestral origin and be used in genealogy. DNA testing can also verify Native American ancestry in order to qualify for various government programs.

It has even been used by suspicious and anxious parents to make sure that they are leaving the hospital with the correct baby.

There are occasions when fathers are not sure if the child they claim is his own. This is when legal paternity tests come in handy to test the DNA features of the child that matches his. This will reassure the father if he has come to father a legitimate child. Or you can try court ordered paternity test.