Is paternity established through a court or via DNA testing?

Paternity law in Texas states that paternity can be established in two ways; either through a court or via DNA testing. Court-established paternity is determined when a father admits to or acknowledges paternity, or when a court orders a DNA test, and the parent-child relationship is established in a court order. The Texas Family Code establishes the procedures for court-established paternity. DNA tests are the preferred method for establishing paternity. A DNA sample is collected from the mother, child, and potential father and sent to a laboratory for testing. Once the results are obtained, the results will either support or deny the alleged parent-child relationship. DNA tests are generally considered more reliable than other methods such as blood testing or other scientific testing. Both court-ordered paternity and DNA testing are necessary and offer conclusive evidence of paternity. DNA testing is usually the most accurate in establishing parentage. However, a court must still order a DNA test, and the court will sometimes accept other scientific evidence to determine parentage. Ultimately, a court will decide parentage in Texas.

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Is paternity established through a court or via DNA testing?

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