Paternity testing helps determine who the biological father of a child is. The test can be required for a variety of reasons, including court cases, personal reassurance, and so on. It can also be required in the instance that a person has found their potential father and wants to be sure. All of these things may be good reasons to get a paternity test, but they don’t necessarily qualify legally.

What legal situations require a paternity test?

Here are 5 legal reasons that can require a paternity test.

1.      Child support and custody

This is, perhaps, the most common reason for paternity testing. If a child is conceived or born when the couple is married and a divorce occurs, custody battles require tests. In most cases, the man is considered responsible for the child, financially and legally. Even if the paternity test doesn’t determine a biological relation, the man is still considered responsible in most cases.

However, if the child is born outside of wedlock, a legal relationship must first be established. For this, a paternity test is required.

2.      Inheritance rights

Inheritance rights sometimes come under dispute. There have been entire films and soap operas made about them. Hence, the situations where these rights are in dispute can be cleared up by either court cases or paternity tests. A distant relative may show up to claim their share of the assets. Whatever the case may be, a paternity test is required by law to determine the true heirs of the inheritance.

To make sure that everyone is treated fairly, a court of law administers the test via medical examiner. The DNA samples are analyzed privately through an accredited lab chosen by the courts. These results are then deemed court admissible so that everything is fair to all parties. Hence, home tests will not cut it here.

3.      Benefits

Inheritance aside, heirs are entitled to other benefits when their biological father or mother passes away. This can include a right to the social security and life insurance benefits that they’ve left behind. It can also include several other benefits that they’ve left for you, such as insurance of a car they’ve given you. All these things require that you take a paternity test if there is doubt about your ancestry.

In fact, in most cases, a medical examiner is ordered by a court of law to collect a DNA sample. The sample is then identified by an accredited lab and the DNA sample is identified. For this, a small, home test simply won’t do. It will require the strict supervision of authorities to ensure no foul play or meddling.

4.      Immigration

Government entities can prove close blood relations only through DNA evidence. When birth certificates and documentation isn’t available, governments turn to paternity tests. This usually happens when refugees immigrate to a country. Immigration paternity tests are often ordered to prove motherhood or fatherhood. This can include testing for siblings and grandparents as well.

5.      Adoption

We’ve all seen this movie. A boy or girl finds out that they’ve been adopted and want to know who their biological parents are. This can qualify as a legal reason to request a paternity test. For this, a home test is feasible and suitable.

How to get a paternity test

There are 3 ways that you can get a paternity test.

1.      At-home kits

This is the most cost-effective way to get a paternity test done. The kit and the lab fee are very inexpensive and you can collect DNA samples and test quickly. It’s also painless and easy so that you don’t have any inhibitions about giving someone else your DNA sample. However, you can’t admit these into court since the identities of participants aren’t verified.

You can order the legal paternity test here.

2.      Ordering a test from a lab

If you need a test for any legal reason, you can find a different option rather than hiring a lawyer in some circumstances. You can talk to an accredited lab directly and provide the reason for the test. These can be inheritance cases, adoption cases, child support, benefits, etc.

3.      Testing via the courts

When the test is required for a legal ruling, you need to go through the courts. As mentioned above, the court has its own sampling system and testing system set up to do this.