7 Tips to Prepare You and Your Family for a Paternity Test

A paternity test is a necessary and contentious process. Knowing what is required is essential, but you should be ready to explain the situation to your loved ones. Some may understand it better than others, but always prepare for the emotional cost and consequences that will arise during a paternity test in the UK. There are several things to remember when you prepare to perform, explain, and utilise the paternity test results.

What is a Paternity Test?

Prospective fathers can use a paternity test to ensure their genetic code matches their offspring. In layman’s terms, it provides substantial proof of paternity.

Reasons for a Paternity Test

Several reasons and circumstances require a paternity test. Unsurprisingly, determining if your child is your own is the most common usage. It can help protect you from doubt, anxiety, and legal ramifications, with the latter being the most common reason for a paternity test in the UK.

For many, the doubt and anxiety of having a child can lead to them conducting a test. Men who are told that they cannot produce children that suddenly have a pregnant partner, is a cause for concern. A paternity test can prove that the child is or is not yours, and that if what you were told about producing children is correct information. You will also discover if there has been an extramarital affair or that precautions taken during intercourse failed.

Legally, parents are responsible for their biological children. If the child is not yours, no legal circumstance requires you to provide financial aid. As a result, you gain legal protection from bad actors, especially if someone suddenly ends up pregnant after meeting you once or twice prior. However, a partner can use the confirmation that a child is not yours against you in a custody battle.

You should perform a paternity test whenever someone is pursuing a claim you owe them child support or if you suspect your children are not your own. In the latter case, this can address their health and safety by determining if they are prone to underlying or generational conditions. This legal DNA test would be ordered through our sister service thatDNAcompany®.

Why a Paternity Test is Emotional

Parents are instinctive to protect their children, even if those children are not their own. If you go up to a random stranger and ask if their child is theirs, they will have varying responses. The most likely of which would be one of insult or offence.

For many women, the idea that they fathered a child without their long-term partner has many negative societal and personal implications. When you move to perform a test, many view it as a condemnation of your partner. Even for the father, who performs the test because the mother’s DNA is guaranteed, the thought that their child is not their own can be devastating. In short, parents are attached to their children, even if they did not conceive them.

Paternity Test Pitfalls

Many believe the results of a paternity test are definitive proof of several things, including infidelity, lack of blood bonds, and absolution from expectations when raising a child. However, a paternity test is not a confirmation of adultery, nor is it always possible to receive the correct result.

Paternity tests prove that a man’s genetics helped him conceive a child. Genetics, however, can often be tricky, and you should use a reputable tester to confirm your results.

Genetic Confusion 

As with many things, a paternity test effectively identifies the genetic code shared by the child and the father. However, children conceived by those related to the father can confuse the system, as very few tests will be 1:1 genetic matches. Theoretically, a cousin, sibling, or parent could provide the same genetic information inside your child, so you need a reputable tester with years of experience.

Not a Confirmation of Adultery

An accident is not adultery. If your spouse is suddenly pregnant, that is not an immediate sign of unfaithfulness. A paternity test can identify infidelity by proving you did not conceive your child but can also confirm that the child is yours. Many men assume that by wearing protection, they are immune to conception. Even if you wear a condom or take contraceptives, it is still possible to conceive children.

7 Ways On How to Prepare for the Paternity Test

Preparing yourself and your family for a paternity test is crucial to managing the emotional challenges of the process. Here are seven ways to prepare for the test and handle any serious emotions that may arise throughout your testing.

Research Your Tester

Providing your DNA can be a blessing and a concern. Genetic code is a powerful identifier and something that several technological advancements have pushed to the forefront of testing. On the other hand, your genetic material could be sold by a company to a third party without your consent since they own the data.

Before even beginning your paternity test, you should research your tester. Check reviews, browse their website, and ensure they provide high-quality service for such an important emotional decision.

At thatdnacompany®, we will never sell your data to any 3^rd party.  Your information only stays with us for the purpose of the DNA test and what’s more, we securely destroy all case related data 12 months following reporting. You can rest assured that your details are kept secure and confidential.

Be Honest and Transparent

One of the most emotionally defining decisions for a paternity test is why you are doing it. If for a legal reason, then the answer is much more straightforward than if you are questioning your partner’s loyalty or concerned your children are not yours.

When you begin a paternity test, as a father, you should sit your family down and explain your reasons. Every situation is different; you should explain that to those closest to you. Keeping everything hidden and “under wraps” is dangerous and can lead to intense emotional conflict when revealed. For too many spouses, performing a paternity test is a betrayal of trust, doubly so if you do it behind their backs.

Seek Counselling

Whether you are a father looking to learn if his children are his own, or a child looking to discover if someone you suspect is your true father, there is a significant emotional investment. Before proceeding, you should seek a counsellor to address your concerns and identify where you may be most vulnerable to emotional strain during the paternity testing.

Explain the Situation to Your Children

Depending on the age of your children, you may need to explain the situation differently to them. You should never leave your children in the dark about a paternity test; however, this topic is difficult to broach.

For younger children, it is almost impossible for them to understand the complexities of a paternity test, what it means, and how it is performed.

For older children, the information can be much more disparaging. If you are fighting for custody and a child you have raised for several years is suddenly determined not to be yours, you may never be allowed to see them or have the legal footing to retain custody. Emotionally, the child will be devastated, as their entire life will have been turned upside down by this information.

There is no easy way to go about this, but if you are struggling, you should seek help from professional counsellors and others who can help you navigate it.

Prepare for any Outcome

You may contemplate exactly what it is you’ll need for a DNA test to be definitive. DNA testing is complex, and even after ensuring you have what you need for a DNA test, there are chances the results will not be what you expected. It’s best to always prepare for every possibility however you see fit.

Follow the Instructions Carefully

If you type “what do you need for a DNA test,” every provider will give you a different answer. Some use hair, blood, bodily fluids, semen, or other signifiers that carry genetic codes. Each tester will ask for something different that works with their system and program, so always follow the directions of your kit to the letter. Failing to follow the instructions carefully can result in incorrect or harmful data. As such, it can lead to legal ramifications if the results are used to determine proof of paternity or if you are trying to identify the correct father.

At thatDNAcompany®, we use a simple mouth swab from each test participant.  We find this is the best way as it is non-invasive and can be performed on even newborn babies. We have also created a short video on our website explaining how best to take a sample and a step-by-step guide is included within your sampling kit. 

Follow Up with the Provider

Finally, once you have prepared everything and sent your kit in, you should follow up with the provider, depending on their turnaround time. While many testers will gladly give you a time frame, your kit can always be delayed and caught up in the flow. If you are unlucky, your kit could be lost, wasting both time and money. This is another reason why researching your provider is essential.

At thatDNAcompany® we keep you updated on the progress of your test via e-mail. Once we have received all samples, we will send you an expected results due date and we will again e-mail you when the Test Report is available. 

thatdnacompany® You Need

At thatdnacompany®, we provide paternity testing services for several groups, including single and multiple children and two or more possible fathers. We upload all results to our secure website. Depending which service you choose, your result will be available in two working days or you can pay a little extra and have results the next working day.

If you need a paternity test in the UK for your legal fight for custody and support or want to confirm paternity over your children, contact us immediately. Discover why our clients trust us with such a sensitive and emotionally charged issue.