Legal Paternity Test

Uncertainty regarding who the father of your child is can be extremely difficult to navigate alone. Get the fast, secure, and accurate answers you need with a legal paternity test. Learn how DDC can provide an accurate and court-admissible probability of paternity.

Accredited Relationship Testing
CAP Accredited
NATA World Recognized Accreditation
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
ANAB Accredited
Ministry of Justice

Is the Legal Paternity Test Report Court-Admissible?

Our legal paternity test follows a strict chain-of-custody process with the DNA sample collection witnessed, giving you legal, court-admissible paternity test results. With over 3,500 collection sites across all 50 states, we’ll make the process fast and easy by setting you up with a location right in your neighborhood.

Legal at Home Paternity Test
Legal DNA Tests

DDC Legal Paternity Test

Use DDC Legal Paternity Test results in court cases involving child support and custody cases, birth certificate changes, immigration, adoption, tax forms, inheritance rights and more.

  • Secure in-person DNA sample collection
  • Separate collection appointments for tested parties can be arranged
  • Secure results within 1-2 business days
  • Results of our legal paternity test are reviewed by our in-house team of PhDs
The DDC Promise

Results in 1-2 Business Days

Once all samples arrive at the lab.

PhD-Reviewed Results

Our in-house experts ensure accuracy.

Team Support

Stay informed every step of the way.

Over 25 Years of Experience in DNA Relationship Testing

For decades, customers have trusted us with over 20 million DNA tests. Our expert laboratory technicians ensure your legal paternity test results are accurate for the samples provided.

AAB-Accredited

AABB-ACCREDITED

First and only test accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies

American Pregnancy Association

American Pregnancy Association

The only test endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association

25 Years

25 Years

Over 25 years of experience in DNA relationship testing

Reach Out Today

Call our paternity experts today for your free, confidential consultation!

How Our Legal DNA Paternity Test Works

We make it easy by managing the entire process for you with flexible options to meet your needs. Our DNA specialists are available to help at any point in the process.

Step 1: Give Us a Call

Not sure if you need a legal paternity test or a home paternity test? Call our experts for a no-obligation consultation. A dedicated DDC customer service representative can help answer any questions you may have and identify which type of relationship test may best suit your needs.

CALL NOW: 1.800.681.7162

Step 2: Scheduling DNA Sample Collection

When you opt for a legal paternity test with DDC, your customer service representative will make an appointment for test participants at a local approved DNA collection center in your area. Appointments can be made at multiple collection centers if needed.

At the collection center, the identities of all tested parties will be verified and this proof of verification will be included in the paternity test report (results), making the results court-admissible.

Step 3: Your Test is Carefully Processed

Once the DNA samples arrive at the DDC laboratory, our technicians carefully handle and prepare them for processing. Every DDC paternity test that utilizes buccal (cheek) swab samples is run two separate times by independent teams. The results are then reviewed by our in-house team of PhDs and your paternity test report is prepared.

Step 4: Receive Your Results Online

Once testing is complete, typically within 1-2 days, we will send you an email — just log in to our secure website to view your results. Legal paternity test results are completely confidential, and your private genetic information is never shared with or sold to outside parties. See our privacy policy here.

We Are Your Legal Paternity Test Experts

DDC performs thousands of legal paternity tests each year, in addition to:

Legal at Home DNA Tests

Call For Your Reliable Legal Paternity Test

When you choose an industry leader like DDC for your paternity test, you can rely on the results.

Legal Vs. Home Paternity Testing

The main differences between legal paternity tests and home paternity tests lie in how the DNA samples are collected and how the test results can be used. Results from a legal paternity test are admissible in court, whereas results from a home paternity test are not. Courts accept results from legal DNA tests because they follow a chain-of-custody process with witnessed DNA collection, ensuring that no sample tampering can occur.

FAQs About Legal Paternity Tests

Below are some frequently asked questions about legal paternity tests.

Where do we go to get DNA collected for a legal paternity test?

With a legal paternity test, DNA is collected at a locally approved collection center in your area. DDC collaborates with thousands of approved providers worldwide, including clinics, hospitals, and mobile collection units.

When you place your order, your customer service representative will schedule the appointment on your behalf at a time and location that is most convenient for each tested party. Tested parties can have their DNA collected at different times and/or in separate locations.

Does getting a legal paternity test change the birth certificate?

While obtaining a legal paternity test does not automatically alter the birth certificate, the legal proof of paternity provided by this test can be utilized to request a modification through the Department of Vital Records or the relevant entity in your jurisdiction.

Do all courts accept results from a legal paternity test?

Not all courts are required to accept the results of a legal paternity test. Whether or not a report is accepted as proof of paternity depends on the discretion of each individual judge. However, when a court does acknowledge DNA test results as evidence of paternity, it must be a legal DNA test rather than an at-home paternity test.

Does the mother need to be included in a legal paternity test?

In most cases, a mother’s DNA is not required to obtain conclusive results for a paternity test. However, there are instances when her DNA can be helpful in strengthening the results, prompting the lab to pause testing and request a sample from the mother. It’s advisable for the mother to provide her sample but she is not required to do so unless court-ordered.

How do I read my legal paternity test results?

We are required to use specific language in paternity test reports. If you need assistance understanding any part of your paternity results report, watch this helpful video or read this blog.

Customer Reviews of Our DNA Tests

Give Us a Call

Call our paternity experts today for your free, confidential consultation!

Reach Us

Have questions or need assistance? Contact our team.

DNA Technology Park
1 DDC Way
Fairfield, OH 45014

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