Can a father do a DNA test without a mother’s consent?
Yes. A father can perform a DNA test without a mother’s consent under the following circumstances.
1. Married men can perform a paternity test without the mother’s consent. Marriage automatically gives the husband legal father status to make decisions on behalf of child under the age of 18.
2. Unmarried men can perform a DNA test without the consent in case where the alleged father’s name is on the child’s birth certificate.
3. A legal guardian that may or may not be biologically related to a child can give consent to paternity test with an alleged father without the mother’s knowledge.
What are the common scenarios to perform paternity test without maternal consent?
Performing a paternity test without the knowledge of the mother occurs when suspicion arises and to avoid possible conflict.
We recommend communicating with the mother prior to performing a DNA test especially for legal purposes. Having all parties involved removes question about a proper chain of custody being established.
The mother’s involvement may avoid potential legal actions when performing a DNA test on her child without permission when alleged father’s are not the legal father.
What Types of DNA Testing options are available?
Depending on your situation, you can perform a legal or non-legal DNA test.
Non-legal DNA Testing:
A non legal peace of mind DNA test is a cost effective method of determining paternity for informational purposes only. No chain of custody establishment is require and the results cannot be used legally.
DNA samples can be collected in the comfort of your home or in-office. Pricing for this testing option starts at $199.99 for a Home DNA Kit, and pricing for in-office non-legal paternity tests start at $325.00
Legal DNA Testing:
A legal DNA Test is legally admissible testing option help to determine if an alleged biological father is biologically related to child. This option requires the establishment of chain of custody, an unbiased third party DNA collection and all DNA samples will under the strict supervision of our partner AABB accredited laboratory.
Our partner lab’s accreditation ensures that your DNA samples will be tested at the highest industry standards and will be recognized by family courts nationwide.
What is the standard method of collection?
The method of collection is performed by cheek swab. Blood samples are another viable method of collection with the same efficiency as a cheek swab collection but is more invasive, costly and painful.
Can paternity testing be performed using a forensic sample?
Yes. A paternity test can be performed using forensic samples such as hair or a toothbrush. However, it is important to note that in most cases, tests conducted using forensic samples cannot be used for legal purposes.
Forensic samples can only be used for legal testing when there is a court order from a judge or when the samples are held by an unbiased third party, such as a coroner’s office in cases where a parent is deceased.
Ethical Issues:
Performing a DNA test using someone’s sample without their permission may have legal consequences, depending on your state’s laws regarding DNA collection and privacy. You should consult a legal professional in your state to ensure you are in compliance with all applicable laws.
Looking to perform a DNA testing that prioritizes keeping you compliant? Contact IDTO DNA today at 888-204-0583 for legal testing, peace-of-mind tests, or case-specific consultation.+