What is the purpose of a paternity test?

The purpose of a paternity test is to determine if a man is the biological father of a child. In West Virginia, paternity tests are used to establish the legal parentage of a child, which can be done in a variety of ways. A paternity test can be used to determine if a man is the biological father of a child during a divorce or child support proceedings, or if a man is signing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP) and wishes to be certain of the child’s parentage. Paternity tests in West Virginia can take the form of DNA testing, blood testing, home paternity tests, and legal paternity tests. The most accurate type of paternity test is a DNA test, which is performed through a laboratory, and its results are legally binding. If the results of a paternity test are positive, it means that the man tested is the biological father, and legal proceedings may be taken to establish the father’s rights. On the other hand, if the results are negative, it means that the man tested is not the biological father. Whatever the result, it is important that paternity be established in cases where legal proceedings are involved.

Related FAQs

Is there any way to challenge a court-ordered paternity test?
Does the age of the father matter when establishing paternity?
How is the father's income taken into consideration when determining child support?
How can a father establish legal paternity if the mother is unwilling to cooperate?
Can a father be ordered to take a paternity test?
How is paternity established if the father is not living in the same state as the mother?
What are the steps involved in establishing paternity?
Can a paternity test be performed after the mother has died?
How is paternity typically established in a court of law?
What are the rights of a father in a paternity case?

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