There are many reasons it may be important to establish who the father of a child is. Knowing the paternity of a child in Michigan is crucial when it comes to child custody and child support issues, but there are certain facts DNA testing can and cannot verify. It’s vital to understand what information can be definitely provided through such a test.

The odds of a DNA test establishing paternity are 99.9%, while the test will come back at zero% if the man is not the father of the child. The test will also indicate the gender of the child, which is important for a correct outcome of the test. These days, advancements in DNA testing can also show the paternity of a child while the child is still in utero and the mother is at least eight weeks pregnant.

On the other hand, a DNA test cannot provide the age of the alleged father, nor if the man used someone else’s sample if doing the test at home. This is why professionals suggest that those doing the DNA test do it in the same room at the same time, seal the envelopes together and put them in the mail together. It’s vital these tests are done honestly since the results may be used in court. The other circumstance where paternity can’t be validated is when the two men being tested are biological twins.

Paternity issues can be complex and emotionally overwhelming. The need for expert advice such as that of a Michigan attorney may be helpful especially when paternity is being challenged or when the recognized father might not be the biological father. The man is question could be the presumed father, the acknowledged father, an unwed father or even a stepfather.