Common Reasons for a Paternity Test

People seek out a paternity test for a multitude of personal reasons. And the people looking for paternity testing are not just mothers or fathers. Sometimes adult children seek out paternity testing for inheritance purposes, immigration, or in cases of adopted children seeking their birth families. Some of the reasons one might purchase a DNA paternity test include:

1. “I just have to know”: A person’s ability to handle the unknown is as unique as the individual.  Some of our clients heard a story from a relative and waited 70+ years until they just had to find out the truth with a paternity test.  (These stories are always so amazing.)  For others, just the 40 weeks of pregnancy are unbearable, and a painless cheek swab in the first few days of life can answer this all-important question.  It’s all about peace of mind.
2. Family Ties: It is difficult to overstate the importance of a feeling of true belonging.  Many articles  cite research showing that being part of a close family benefits a person in countless ways, including overall health, reduced stress, better performance on the job or in school, and the increased likelihood of sustaining healthy familial relationships throughout life.
3. Child Custody Issues:   When there is a dispute over the welfare of a child and/or the best visitation arrangement for a child, you want the right people making these critical decisions.
4. Financial Security:   Paternity can impact a child’s financial situation from childhood into adulthood.  Paternity may affect child support payments, medical insurance, housing and other necessities.   Long-term financial effects of paternity include possible  inheritance of money or property, college savings and other ways a parent might give a child a head-start in life.
5. Medical Lifeline:  There are some instances when knowing the identity of one’s father may mean the difference between life and death.  Whether considering genetic propensities or confronting a serious illness, true paternity can have a huge impact on medical decisions and the appropriate course of treatment.  In a situation when an organ donation is needed, a biological father may be a source of hope.