Paternity / DNA Tests

A biological parent is responsible for supporting his/her child.

If there is any doubt that a father is the child’s biological father, a court can order that this person attend for DNA testing to determine if he is the child’s biological father.

Paternity testing is a fairly easy process.  The father first attends at the DNA laboratory.  The father presents photo identification and has his photograph taken at the lab.  He then gets a swab taken of the inside of his cheek.  The mother then attends at the DNA laboratory with the Child and indentifies the alleged father by his photograph.  The lab technician then obtains an oral swab from the child.  If the child is unable or unwilling to attend at the lab, a DNA sample from the child can be obtained from a number of sources (eg. toothbrush, used Kleenex, blood sample etc.).  DNA tests are very accurate.    It is possible that if a father refuses to provide a DNA sample, a court could draw an adverse inference and deem the father responsible to pay child support for the Child.  This is especially the case where there is other corroborating evidence to support the conclusion that the father is the biological parent of the Child (ie. circumstances of the parties relationship, when they had sex etc.).

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