COVID-19: Temporary Delays in Testing and Communications

by HOMEDNA on 08/26/2020

Expect Some Delays in Testing and Communications due to COVID-19

FAIRFIELD, Ohio, August 26, 2020 Like many other businesses, DDC (the parent company of HomeDNA Paternity kit sold in stores) continues to work hard to manage and mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Please be advised we are doing our best to minimize disruptions, but you can nevertheless expect some delays.
Turnaround Time for Tests: To meet the high demand for testing while supporting our staff, there are currently delays in turnaround times – measured in days, not weeks. Be assured we understand how important your test is and are committed to delivering results as soon as possible. Once samples arrive at the lab, it may take several days before they go into testing, and we appreciate your patience. When testing begins, a notification email is sent to the address connected with the account.
 
Phone and Email: If you call DDC,  phone wait-times may be longer than expected. We suggest you contact us before or after peak time of 11AM to 1PM Eastern to minimize hold time. Email replies may take up to 72 business hours.
During COVID, the DDC team continues to provide the quality of service you expect with results you can trust, and we thank you for understanding.
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blog-new-years-resolutions-stronger-family

3 New Year’s Resolutions for a Stronger Family

by HOMEDNA on 01/02/2020

Eat less sugar? Limit TV time? B.O.R.I.N.G.

When you hear the phrase New Year’s Resolutions, is your first reaction, ‘UGH’? You’re certainly in good company. The statistics on resolutions may seem kind of discouraging.

 24% fail with their New Year’s resolution each year

49% report only moderate success each year

38% of Americans never make resolutions at all

So why bother making New Year’s resolutions? Because if something’s important to you, it’s worth it:

People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t make resolutions (Statistic Brain Research Institute).

And isn’t your family worth it?

Here are some fun ideas for family New Year’s resolutions that your kids will actually help you keep and that can make your family stronger!

1. Family Play: ‘Together Time’

 Set aside 2-3 hours each week for Together Time. Make an absolute commitment to spend time enjoying each other’s company without electronics, TV, or other distractions. Some ideas for activities could include:

  • Playing games
  • Working in the yard
  • Reading together
  • Doing something nice for someone else
  • Baking
  • Visiting relatives
  • Let kids come up with ideas!

Scheduling for this one every week is the tricky part, especially if you have smaller kids as well as teens, or if a parent works a swing shift. Even if the time has to change from week to week, DO IT. Your kids (and you) will remember these times forever.

How this makes a stronger family:

Not only are you making shared memories, but kids learn from your example. They feel valued because you make the effort for what you care most about-them (Pish).

2. Family Munchies: Eat Together

 It’s something every family struggles with: finding time to sit down and eat together. If this has been a chronic problem in your household due to schedules and a generally hectic lifestyle, start small. Plan on eating at the table just a few days a week. If you don’t have time to cook and need to pick up burgers or a pizza, that’s fine too. . .What’s important is enjoying each other’s company and talking about each other’s individual lives and yourselves as a unit in a quiet, peaceful setting.

How this makes a stronger family: 

  • Most meaningful conversations with our children happen while we’re eating.
  • Kids learn the importance of listening and participating
  • Even the smallest child can enjoy the self-esteem that comes from having their voice be heard and valued
  • Your kids are a captive audience, so it’s the perfect time to engage them in discussions about your family’s values, aspirations, and goals
  • Kids who eat more meals at home are likelier to have healthier eating habits
  • Studies show that a decrease in high-risk behaviors can be attributed to the amount of time a child spends eating with family at home (Paredes,Persaud,Shelnutt)

3. Family Laughs

One of the things that can really make a difference in your home in the New Year is less arguing and more laughter. It’s not always something we consciously think of perhaps, but what is the ‘default mood’ in your household? If tension, bickering or tears immediately come to mind, then it’s time to make a change. This is one area where parents can really make a difference. To ‘up’ the smiles and ‘down’ the frowns, you can help by:

  • Controlling your own temper and showing kindness and love
  • Diffusing confrontations between kids immediately
  • Creating a more relaxed home by not sweating the small stuff (Ellis)

How this makes a stronger family:

Increasing laughter has many emotional benefits. It elevates the collective mood in a home, reduces stress levels, brings family members closer together, and makes kids more resilient. Developing a sense of humor also gives children a tool with which to face the inevitable adversities in life.

Creating realistic expectations for family New Year’s resolutions are essential. Everyone slips up sometimes. But stick with them and then celebrate your successes!

 Do you have ideas for New Year’s resolutions that can make families stronger? Tell us in the comments!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our  Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri  from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center. 

 Resources

Paredes, Anghela Z., Eshani Persaud, and Karla P. Shelnutt. “Raising Healthy Children: The Importance of Family Meals1.” EDIS New Publications RSS. University of Florida, July 2013. Web. 22 Dec. 2015. <http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1195>. 

Pish, Suzanne. “Spending Quality Family Time Together Is Very Important.” MSU Extension. Michigan State University, 15 June 2013. Web. 22 Dec. 2015. <http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/spending_quality_family_time_together_is_very_important>. 

“Statistic Brain.” Statistic Brain. Statistic Brain Research Institute, 26 Jan. 2015. Web. 22 Dec. 2015. <http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/>. 

Robinson, Lawrence, Jeanne Segal, PhD, and Melinda Smith, M.A. “Managing Conflicts with Humor.” Fixing Relationship Problems with Humor: Using Laughter and Play to Build and Maintain Successful Relationships. Helpguide.org, Dec. 2015. Web. 22 Dec. 2015. <http://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships/fixing-relationship-problems-with-humor.htm>. 

“The Importance of Family Dinners.” The Importance of Family Dinners. University of Florida, n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2015. <http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/families_and_consumers/family_dinners.shtml>.

 

What to do when DNA says you're not the father

What to Do When You Discover You Are Not the Father

by HOMEDNA on 06/23/2019

If you’ve taken on the role of parenting a child, this relationship is not something that can be easily undone by a DNA test. No matter how many years you’ve been the father, you know better than anyone that in your heart you will always feel a paternal bond, whether you’re biologically related or not. But very often, an assumed biological relationship is disproved by the results of an at-home or legal paternity test, which means very critical decisions now need to be made.

So what do you do when you discover you’re not the father?

There are several things you can do, including:

  1. Trying to claim legal guardianship, or
  2. Going to court for the child support payments you were wrongfully obligated to pay

Claiming legal guardianship (applies to most states)

If you wish to establish legal guardianship, begin by filing a petition stating your interest in becoming the child’s legal guardian.

Because the court will come to a decision that has the child’s best interest at heart, they will most likely set up interviews. Not only will you be interviewed, but the mother and the biological father, too, will be subject to investigation.

To become legal guardian of a child, you must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be of legal adult age ( usually 18+)
  • Be physically capable of assuming responsibility for the child
  • Have enough time to care for the child
  • Be capable of supporting a child financially
  • Prove to be a positive influence and responsible role model

After you submit a petition and the investigations begin, you may want to write a letter of explanation stating your reasons for wanting to establish legal guardianship. This may help present a stronger case in your favor. However, as the case moves forward, the court will take many other things into account, including:

  • The child’s preferred guardian
  • Who among the interested parties would provide the best care
  • The relationship between the child and the potential guardian
  • Moral conduct of all interested parties
  • Consent of the child’s parents

If the mother and biological father do not offer their consent, you may still have a case if they have their parental rights terminated or if the court decides they are unfit to raise the child and that denying custody would be in the child’s best interest.

Seeking reimbursement for child support

Unfortunately, in most states it is nearly impossible to get reimbursed for child support, even if paternity test results show you are not the father.

If you truly want to pursue reimbursement, you should prepare for a lengthy-and most likely costly- legal battle that may not have any payoff. The best advice is this:

  • Get a good lawyer
  • Make a strong case to be compensated for damages
  • Provide concrete, legal DNA evidence to the court
  • Be patient

These cases are generally difficult because once you sign any documents acknowledging paternity, a legal relationship recognized by the courts has been established. Although rare, there are exceptions. Some men who have provided strong DNA evidence and a compelling case have convinced courts to rule in their favor by voiding the mother’s child support claim.

NOTE: The above information is general  meant only to provide a basic outline of processes. Laws vary from state to state. 

Click here to see paternity information for all 50 states or click the link(s) for your state at the bottom of this post.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

The best way around this unfortunate situation is to avoid it in the first place. Before signing any documents such as an acknowledgment of paternity or birth certificate, it is much safer to take an at-home paternity test when the child is born. This way, you won’t be trapped in any legally-binding agreements without full knowledge of your true relationship to the child.

Once baby arrives, you may purchase an IDENTIGENE at-home paternity test at your local independent drug store or a chain such as CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, or Walmart. These tests are performed using convenient cheek swabs that are safe to use on infants. Simply submit your child’s and your DNA samples along with the order form. Once samples arrive at our accredited DNA testing laboratory, you will have your results within two business days. If you prefer to know sooner, you can also do a paternity test before the baby is born. A non-invasive prenatal paternity test from a reputable company is just as accurate as a post-natal test and perfectly safe for mom and pregnancy.

Click here to read about and then watch how a real IDENTIGENE client handled the news that he wasn’t the biological father.

For more information about the IDENTIGENE paternity test kit or other questions about establishing paternity, explore our website.

 
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri  from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center. 

State-by-State Paternity Resources

Alabama Paternity Establishment

Alaska Paternity Establishment

Arizona Paternity Establishment

Arkansas Paternity Establishment

California Paternity Establishment

Colorado Paternity Establishment

Connecticut Paternity Establishment

Delaware Paternity Establishment

District of Columbia Paternity Establishment

Florida Paternity Establishment

Georgia Paternity Establishment

Hawai’i Paternity Establishment

Idaho Paternity Establishment

Illinois Paternity Establishment

Indiana Paternity Establishment

Iowa Paternity Establishment

Kansas Paternity Establishment

Kentucky Paternity Establishment

Louisiana Paternity Establishment

Maine Paternity Establishment

Maryland Paternity Establishment

Massachusetts Paternity Establishment

Michigan Paternity Establishment

Minnesota Paternity Establishment

Mississippi Paternity Establishment

Missouri Paternity Establishment

Montana Paternity Establishment

Nebraska Paternity Establishment

Nevada Paternity Establishment

New Hampshire Paternity Establishment

New Jersey Paternity Establishment

New Mexico Paternity Establishment

New York Paternity Establishment

North Carolina Paternity Establishment

North Dakota Paternity Establishment

Ohio Paternity Establishment

Oklahoma Paternity Establishmentces)

Oregon Paternity Establishment

Pennsylvania Paternity Establishment

Rhode Island Paternity Establishment

South Carolina Paternity Establishment

South Dakota Paternity Establishment

Tennessee Paternity Establishment

Texas Paternity Establishment

Utah Paternity Establishment

Vermont Paternity Establishment

Virginia Paternity Establishment

Washington Paternity Establishment

West Virginia Paternity Establishment

Wisconsin Paternity Establishment

Wyoming Paternity Establishment

  BUY A PATERNITY KIT NOW

Sources

“Paternity Information by State – FindLaw.” Findlaw. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. <http://family.findlaw.com/paternity/paternity-information-by-state.html>.

“Can You Get a Refund If the Child You Support Isn’t Really Yours?”Legalzoom.com. N.p., 01 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Sept. 2015. <http://www.legalzoom.com/articles/can-you-get-a-refund-if-the-child-you-support-isnt-really-yours>.

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