Definition of Paternity

The term ‘paternity’ refers to the biological role of a father in a child’s conception and the biological or legal relationship between a father and his child or children. DNA Paternity Testing is a common and reliable method of confirming the existence of biological relationship between an alleged father and his child and solving cases of misattributed paternity. The DNA paternity test does not necessitate the mother’s DNA and can be done for either legal or curiosity purposes. These tests can be used to find peace of mind or as a legal proof of paternity.

The legal side to paternity focuses on confirming paternity or disputing paternity. After the child is born, a way for a father to agree and accept legal responsibility for his child is to sign what is known as an acknowledgment of paternity form. By signing this form the father is entitled to certain parental rights. Benefits of signing an acknowledgment paternity form is that it gives the father the right to having their name listed on the child’s birth certificate, the right to be consulted in cases of adoption and the right to contribute towards child support.

It is important however to note that paternity laws associated with the paternity form excludes other rights such as visitation and custody. It is not always the case that a father gains access to see his child or to have his child living under the same roof.

Home DNA tests are today readily available for establishing paternity and the test can be done easily from the comfort of one’s own home using our home testing kit which contains easy to use oral swabs.