Paternity
Is it legal to refuse a paternity test?
TL;DR - In the UK, it is legal to refuse a paternity test, but refusal typically results in the man being legally declared the father and responsible for child maintenance. Courts cannot force DNA testing, but the Child Maintenance Services will cover testing costs if financial hardship is... Read More
Can a Paternity Test be Wrong?
TL;DR - Paternity tests themselves are highly accurate and rarely "wrong" scientifically, but results can be compromised through sample tampering, fraud, or submission of DNA from a different person. Home testing kits are vulnerable to manipulation and not court-admissible, which is why... Read More
Complex DNA Testing - What is it and why do markers matter?
As a legal professional you may be used to requesting DNA Testing, and when the report arrives simply turning to the conclusion to see if your client is related or not. On the surface that is perfectly acceptable because paternity testing is relatively straightforward, as closely related people... Read More
Paternity Testing: What You Need To Know
Aside from cases such as surrogate pregnancy, it's usually pretty obvious who the mother of a child is. However, this is not the same with the father and in cases of doubt, many families have to resort to DNA paternity testing for a definitive answer. It is estimated that between 5% and 20... Read More