Baby DNA Test Law

If you have more than one partner and become pregnant, it is only natural for you to want to know who the father is. Most mothers get a peace of mind when knowing for sure.

Testing

• Blood samples are the most common parentage testing done. Another test involves collecting cells with a cotton swab from inside the mouth. Certain safeguards the lab must take include strict procedures concerning protection of the chain of custody of blood or tissue samples, identification of the parties being tested and correct preparation of test results.

Confidentiality

• Most DNA labs have to keep the results completely confidential. It is one's responsibility to speak with each lab individually about its policies regarding confidentiality.

Court

• For those who have to go to court for different reasons, including child support, labs offer "curiosity tests" at a lower cost. If you are not sure you will need the results, it is better to just go ahead and get the court-approved test and pay the extra money.

Cost

• As of 2010, the cost of a curiosity test averages around $175 for the child, biological mother and alleged father. The legal or court-approved test averages $220. For the legal test, one may have to pay chain-of-custody fees, which vary from place to place.

AOP

• Most states have laws that require an unmarried couple to fill out an AOP, or Acknowledgement of Paternity, form to legally establish the father of the baby. If the couple is unmarried and the mother has not been married in the last 300 days, then no father will be listed on the birth certificate until this legally binding form is filled out.