How is DNA Paternity Testing Used in Illinois?
The word “paternity” refers to a father’s legal relationship with his child. When a mother gives birth, she is automatically the child’s legal parent. However, the same is not always true for fathers. If a mother is married, her husband is presumed to be the child’s father. However, many mothers are not married at the time of their baby’s birth. Furthermore, relationships are complicated, and sometimes a woman’s husband is not the baby’s biological father. If you are involved in a complicated situation like this, you may wonder how Illinois uses DNA paternity testing to confirm parentage in a family law case.
Establishing Paternity in Illinois
There are three main ways that a parent can establish legal parentage or paternity. The simplest method is for the parents to sign a document called a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity and put the father’s name on the baby’s birth certificate. However, this option may not be feasible if paternity is unknown or contested. Paternity may also be established through an administrative paternity order or court order. In some cases, DNA testing is needed to confirm that a father is indeed a child’s biological parent.
How Does DNA Testing Work?
Children get half their DNA from their mother and half from their father. Laboratory technicians can analyze a baby’s DNA and compare it to the presumed father’s DNA to see if the man is actually the child’s father. During paternity testing, DNA may be obtained through the test subject’s cheek cells or blood. To get a cheek cell sample, a cotton swab is lightly scraped on the inside of the subject’s mouth. DNA is extracted from cells on the cotton swab and analyzed. In some cases, blood samples are taken from the test subjects instead of cheek cells. DNA paternity testing is extremely accurate.
What If My Child’s Parent Refuses to Cooperate?
Paternity is a crucial factor in gaining parental rights, establishing child support, and addressing other family law issues. However, establishing the paternity of a child can be particularly challenging if a parent does not cooperate. If you are a mother or a father and you have a paternity-related issue, contact an experienced family law attorney for help.
Contact a Joliet Paternity Lawyer
Whether you are the mother or the father, establishing the paternity of your baby is an essential part of protecting your rights and your child’s rights. For help, contact an Illinois family law attorney at Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C.. Call 815-666-1285 for a free, confidential case assessment today.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/10119-dna-paternity-test
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