How to Get a Court-Ordered Paternity Test

How to Get a Court-Ordered Paternity Test

Learn how single mothers can request a court-ordered paternity test to establish biological fatherhood and secure court-mandated child support.

The birth of a child is arguably the most important moment for parents. Even if the mother and father are not married, the father can sign a form at the hospital acknowledging that he is the biological father. However, there are instances when a biological father refuses to accept responsibility for his child.
If you are a single mother and the biological father of your child refuses to provide financial support, you can request a court-ordered paternity test. Through this process, the father will be required to undergo DNA testing to determine whether he is indeed the biological father. If the test confirms that he is the biological father, the court will order him to pay child support.
If you want to obtain a court-ordered paternity test, follow these steps:

• Consult legal counsel to request a court-ordered paternity test. Your legal counsel can be a private attorney you hire. However, if you cannot afford a lawyer, there are nonprofit organizations that offer free legal aid services through volunteer attorneys who assist individuals who cannot afford private representation. If free legal aid services are unavailable in your area, you can seek assistance from your state's attorney general's office. The state attorney general's office is responsible for ensuring that the biological father of every child contributes to child support.
• Once you secure the court order, the DNA testing will be conducted. Blood samples will be collected from the alleged or putative father, the child, and the mother. In some cases, however, samples may be taken only from the putative father and the child, excluding the mother. Be sure to have this procedure performed at a specialized DNA testing laboratory rather than just any available clinic.
• After the DNA test is completed, you must wait for the results. DNA test results are 99.99% accurate. If the results confirm that the alleged or putative father is the biological father, the court will order him to pay child support. However, this outcome also grants him the right to request child visitation and allows him to seek child custody. If he decides to pursue custody of your child, he can file a request with the court for you to resolve together. If he wishes to see the child, he can also request visitation rights to spend time with the child. This is because, even when parents are separated, the law prioritizes the best interests of the child, which includes having the opportunity to spend time with both parents.

With a court-ordered paternity test, you can establish biological fatherhood and secure assistance in supporting your child. You do not have to bear the financial burden alone, as both parents are obligated to provide support.