When establishing the paternity of a child proves challenging in Virginia, involving the family court may be your final recourse to confirm paternity. This post will discuss the steps necessary to obtain a court-ordered paternity test.
How do I get a court-ordered DNA Test in Virginia?
In Virginia, you can establish paternity with a court-ordered DNA test by following one of two methods:
1. File a paternity petition in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court closest to your location. Both the mothers and presumed fathers can use this option.
2. Request a court-ordered paternity test through the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE). You’ll need to contact their office for the necessary steps to initiate this procedure.
There’s an additional option for establishing paternity using a DNA test for unmarried parents:
– If both unmarried parents agree, they can opt to have a legal paternity test conducted independently of the court or the DCSE. This choice can speed up the process, allowing for quicker receipt of test results and potentially reducing the overall waiting time.
Turnaround times when performing a DNA test through the state:
If you choose to pursue DNA relationship testing, make sure to select a company like IDTO DNA Testing that offers AABB-accredited services. Only results from AABB-accredited tests are recognized by judges in a court of law.
Comparison of Turnaround Times: State vs. Independent Paternity Testing:
Virginia State DNA Testing
The average turnaround time for your results to be completed is 6 to 8 weeks. Please consider that the COVID-19 pandemic backlog may extend these times. Additionally, the state will not contact you by phone to inform you of the completion of your results.
Independent DNA Testing (IDTO)
The average turnaround time for your results is 2 to 3 business days. Upon completion of your test, you will be contacted by phone with a status update on your case. You will receive a mailed copy of your results at your home, and a pdf copy will be emailed to you.
Please be aware that if you use a DNA testing service that is not accredited by the AABB, your results will not be accepted in court. This could necessitate taking another paternity test, incurring additional costs.
Conclusion:
Establishing paternity through the court system can be a complicated process, but it provides legal certainty. To obtain a court-ordered DNA paternity test in Virginia, contact DCSE and open a child support case or file a petition with the closest Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court near your city.
If both parents can work with one another on scheduling a legal paternity test outside of child support services for faster turnaround times. Contact IDTO at 888-204-0583 to schedule an appointment today.
