The Need for Paternity Testing

If you are uncertain about who the father of your child is, it is necessary to ask your sexual partners to take a paternity test. It will not only help you to determine who the biological father but can provide you with the legal backing to ask for child support. It can provide the mental relief you need if you have been wondering for a while about your child's true father. 

When you go through an accredited laboratory for testing, the cost can range between $400 to $2,000 depending on the type of paternity testing you choose. In most cases, you will not have to wait longer than two business days to learn the results of the paternity tests. 

In many states the question of paternity will arise as soon as the baby is born. In these states the couple is asked to fill out an Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) form. This is a legal document that is meant to establish the paternity of a child in the case of unmarried parents. However, if the mother has not been married for the past 300 days and the couple is unmarried, no father will be listed on the birth certificate until the AOP has been filled out and submitted. This document is then sent to the Bureau of Vital Statistics and the father gets added to the birth certificate as the legal father.

Have questions about paternity?  Contact us to get answers from a Long Island family lawyer.