TEST CODE: 008869

DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR: LEGAL PATERNITY TEST

TURNAROUND TIME: 7–14 calendar days (8 days on average)

DNA SAMPLES: MOUTH SWABS(BUCCAL SWABS)

ALTERNATE SPECIMENS: DNA or saliva/assisted saliva

Legal Paternity Test

Government department such as the Border Agency and courts such as the Family Court, require a legally compliant testing process before they will accept DNA test results as evidence of a biological relationship. They need to be sure that the correct person has been tested and that the samples have not been tampered with at any stage. Home DNA tests are not legally valid as evidence in a court, because the legal system demands certain safeguards to ensure that the sample has been collected in controlled circumstances. For this, you need a Legal Paternity Test.

What Makes a Legal Paternity Test Legally Valid?

To make the test valid, everyone taking part must start by proving their identity, using valid identification documents, with photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. Each test participant must also provide two passport-sized photographs. These are endorsed on the back by the sample collector to verify that they are a true likeness of the person providing the sample. An independent sampler, often a doctor or a nurse, then takes the sample and testifies that it was done properly. The samples are sealed on the spot with tamper-proof seals. They are then documented, before being sent to the laboratory. When they arrive at the laboratory, they are logged again and thoroughly checked before being tested. This secure process provides what the law calls a “chain of custody”. This is a watertight process, during which the evidence, in this case the DNA samples, cannot be interfered with.

How Could a Legal Paternity Test Be Used in An Immigration Case?

In immigration cases, the legal DNA test can prove that a family member is related to a UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian and American citizen can be a powerful tool in supporting the application of a dependent relative to join a family member who is already permanently residing in countries mentioned. In these cases, you need a test provider like us, whose test results and evidence are trusted by various embassies, Home Officeand the courts. It’s often important to get fast results in immigration cases, because travellers may be stranded in war zones or in immigration centres. We understand how stressful this is and will do everything we can to speed up the process for you, while keeping you informed at all times.

Will a Legal Paternity Test Help in A Family Law Case?

Legal paternity tests can be used by parents who are seeking either to prove or to disprove paternity. A mother or other carer may wish to prove paternity, in order to seek support for a child. A father may believe that a child is not his, and may wish to challenge any support order. A legal paternity test can also be used by a parent who is being prevented from seeing a child, to prove that the child is theirs, and to support a case for access to the child. DNA tests are not only used to prove or disprove the parentage of a child. They can also be used in cases where a will or estate is being contested, and there is uncertainty about who is legally entitled to inherit the estate.

Fast and Discreet Service

We understand that the decision to pursue a Legal Paternity Test is often a stressful one, and we work hard to minimise the time you have to wait for the test results. Similarly, we see this is a private family matter and all our communication with you is in discreet packaging that does not give others any hint about the contents.

Placing Your Needs at The Centre of Our Service

We are aware of how difficult this process can be. We promise to deal with you in an open and transparent way. For example, unlike other DNA testing firms, our fees are straightforward and easy to understand, without hidden extras. When you talk to our team, you’ll be talking to people who understand the process, and we come highly recommended by many previous clients. Your welfare will be a key concern at all times.

The Human Tissue Act

The Human Tissue Act regulates the removal, storage, use and disposal of human tissue. This includes DNA samples and biological material and fluids, including semen. Failure to comply with the Human Tissue Act is a criminal offence. In order to be compliant, the sample donor must be made aware of how their DNA sample will be used and must give written consent for the test to take place.