Family Relationship Testing Archives - Page 3 of 4

Grandmother Denied DNA Paternity Test for Grandson

by HOMEDNA on 01/17/2011

A paternity test can confirm paternity results. But what about if the alleged father is deceased and the needed DNA for paternity testing won’t be released? What if there is no one else available on the alleged father’s side of the family to participate in DNA testing with the child?

Paternity testing can help one family with much-needed proof

For one family in Maine, a paternity test could answer a question that can better their way of life. Fosters.com reports on one woman’s struggle to get what she feels is her grandson’s birthright through paternity testing. Pam Caccialini gained custody of her two grandchildren in November of 2008 when her daughter was unable to care for them. The brothers are half siblings with different biological fathers. The youngest child, Mason, is two years old and doesn’t know his biological father. Mason’s mother claims his biological father is U.S. Army Spc. William M. Smith who passed away at the age of 27 on January 9, 2009 while on active duty.

A fight for DNA paternity testing

Both Pam and her husband are taking care of the two children and are having a hard time making ends meet. She feels death benefits can assist to ease the burden and help pay for Mason’s college. Pam has gone to many sources to try to gain death and medical benefits for Mason, but with no success. Before any benefits can be released to Mason, she needs paternity results to be established . She has petitioned for a paternity test using a blood card with the alleged father’s DNA that is kept by the military . The blood card cannot be used for paternity testing without authorization from the next of kin. Claims have been made that the next of kin is William M. Smith’s mother, Linda Everette. But Pam says the child’s alleged grandmother will not authorize the blood cards be released. Linda Everette claims she has not been contacted by any of the agencies Pam is working with.

With the alleged father being deceased and no other relatives to participate in a DNA test, Pam Caccialini is at a dead end, but continues to fight for what she feels is her grandson’s birthright. Read more about her story on fosters.com.

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What DNA Test is Best for Me?

by HOMEDNA on 12/29/2010

When it comes to determining biological relationships, the type of DNA testing you need depends on two things:

Who is available to participate in the DNA testing process
What question you are trying to answer

If the question is paternity, it’s always best to test the alleged father with the child for paternity results.

You’re always going to get the most definitive results when the alleged father provides a sample, and we highly recommend talking it through with the alleged father if he is initially unwilling to go through testing.

Biological mothers are recommended for all tests as a safeguard against an inconclusive result. But in some instances it may not be possible to test the alleged father. He may be deceased, in jail, or nowhere to be found.

In his absence, other types of relationship testing can be done to help determine paternity. But keep the following in mind:

Relationship DNA testing that is NOT a straight paternity test is much more expensive, and, depending on who is participating in the testing, results may be inconclusive.

DNA Testing for Grandparents

If a paternity test is not possible, the next best option is to test the child with both of the biological parents of the alleged father (and course the child’s mother). You’ll want to test both grandparents if possible. You can also test the child with one grandparent for a percentage of probability.

DNA Testing for Siblings

If grandparents are not an option either, you can choose to test siblings. This involves testing the child in question with a known child of the alleged father. There are different types of DNA testing for siblings depending on whether or not they are full or half siblings.

DNA Testing for Aunts/Uncles (Avuncular)

Finally, you can test for an aunt/uncle relationship. This involves testing the child with a full sibling of the alleged father.

The Bottom Line

With relationship testing not involving the alleged father, the rule of thumb for optimal results is to have “family reconstruction” testing done wherein testing is conducted with as many close relatives as possible: alleged grandparents, mother, uncles and aunts, etc.

We highly recommend that you call our Client Support Center. A representative will be happy to help you determine the testing that’s right for your unique situation.

Court orders Sibling DNA Test

by HOMEDNA on 12/09/2010

With the all buzz about paternity kits being sold at your local pharmacy, its hard not to take notice. However, there are other ways to determine paternity in situations where the alleged father is not available.

Adelaide Now reports on a case illustrating when a Sibling DNA test would be a replacement for a Paternity test. In this case an alleged father died in April of 2009, a young boy and his mother are trying to prove paternity to assert rights to his estate. The alleged father in the case has a daughter who is the sole beneficiary to the man’s estate, and has been ordered to take part in a Sibling DNA test with the 6 year old boy. The judge concluded that the minor imposition on the woman to participate in the Sibling DNA test is worth finding the truth.

A sibling DNA test can be done when an alleged father is not accessible for paternity DNA testing, but a known child of his is. Siblings can share one parent (half siblings), or they can share two parents (full siblings). As in any DNA test the mother(s) of the participants are always encouraged to participate in the DNA testing.

A Sibling DNA test is just one option in an array of relationship tests that can be used for legal purposes (such as Immigration or any other relationship verification needs), or just for peace of mind when the alleged father isn’t available to participate for paternity results.

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