Obtaining child support is not always easy or straightforward. It is not as simple as claiming a former partner is a child’s father. Proof is required unless parentage is volunteered. For those residing in New York or elsewhere, there are times when DNA testing will be necessary in order to receive child support. So, what is paternity testing, is it accurate and when can it be done?
Paternity testing, or DNA testing, is completed by obtaining fluid and tissue samples, then running a series of test to determine if DNA is shared between the potential father and child. The samples required are collected through either blood testing or by collecting cells from inside the mouth. The results obtained by testing these sample types are generally considered 99.9 percent accurate.
A paternity test can also be done before a child is born. Before birth, tissue samples can be collected from the placenta or fluid samples from the amniotic fluid. The stage of pregnancy will determine which sample type is to be collected.
Test results can take time. Tests performed after birth generally have a faster turn around time at about five to 10 days. Whereas, samples taken from the womb require longer processing and may take up to a month before results are made available.
Those in New York who are seeking child support from former partners can seek legal assistance in obtaining paternity testing orders. If paternity can be established then it may be possible to receive child support. Petitions will need to be filed and cases reviewed in order to determine if and how much support may be ordered.
Source: clevelandclinic.org, “DNA Paternity Test”, Accessed on Oct. 7, 2015