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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Marian says
In absence of child’s father, is it possible to use paternal grandmother’s dna for determining whether or not the male child is related?
Amber says
Hi Marian,
Yes. This would be a Grandparent DNA test. You can find more info about this on our website at http://www.dnatesting.com/more-dna-tests/grandparent.php. The best option would be to test both of the alleged father’s biological parents, the child, and the child’s mother.
Janette says
I believe my son has a baby here in Baltimore where I reside. My son bounces around with instabilities & I want to know if this baby is my grandson. Levi Bradley was born between January & February 2013. My son is in Iowa with no plans on returning. I feel he doesn’t want involvement with the baby momma & I understand. She has an evil step-mom that won’t let her discuss this with me & keep that baby away from me. I want to know if my daughter, (100% full blooded sister) or myself can take the paternity DNAtest? Where to go & what’s the cost? I’m in Baltimore MD. Thank u, Janettei
KD says
Janette,
You can take a grandparent DNA test, however, you will have to get permission from the biological mother of the child to test him. She has to give consent for her child. To learn more about grandparent DNA testing, please refer to our webpage. http://www.dnatesting.com/dna-paternity-test/more-dna-testing/grandparent-dna-test You can also contact client support at 888-404-4363 M-F 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tara says
I’m having this same issue. How did they resolve this? My fiancé died in January of last year while I was pregnant. I’m trying to get the DNA test to get my son’s survivor benefits set up. The next of Kin for my late fiancé was his brother who hates me because I refused to give him all of my fiancé’s ashes and his police badge which I kept for our son. I gave him a small part of the ashes, but not all of them. I offered him some of his uniforms, but the police badge has been put in a shadow box for my son by his sergeant. So now he’s refusing to sign off on allowing the DNA test. I’m about to hire a family attorney, but I didn’t know if there was a way to get it done without having to use a lawyer.
HomeDNA Identigene says
Hi, Tara. You can ask the funeral home if they have a blood card on file from when your fiance passed. Since you weren’t married, I’m not sure if they would permit you to access it, so you may need to involve a lawyer, especially since his family isn’t cooperating. With the blood card, DNA testing can be performed to confirm paternity for your son. My condolences on your loss.