When establishing the identity of a child’s biological father, a DNA paternity test is the go-to method in Florida and throughout the country. The DNA can show whether the man tested probably is or certainly isn’t the father of a particular child.
For this test, a small sample of blood or often a swab of cells from the cheek is collected from both the child and the alleged father. The samples are then examined in a lab to see if they share enough DNA for the man to be reasonably considered the biological father or, conversely, to disprove the allegation.
The DNA test is generally regarded as the most precise paternity testing method available today. In most cases, the test is said to be about 99.9% accurate in determining the man is significantly likely to be the child’s father, or 100% accurate in showing the man is not the father. For this reason, DNA paternity tests have been relied upon in court for decades.
Why get a paternity test?
When a child is born outside of a marriage, it is only the mother who automatically has legal rights and responsibilities for the child. In order for the biological father to have parental rights or to be held responsible for the child, he must acknowledge his paternity at the child’s birth or later on by establishing his paternity in court.
The reasons for a paternity test are many. For example, a biological father might want to secure the custody rights for his child, or the mother might want to try and force the biological father to help with child support.
Regardless of the circumstances, if you are seeking to establish the paternity of your child, it’s important that you understand all of the steps involved in the process and speak to a skilled Florida family law attorney who can help you get fair treatment under the law.
