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DNA testing for child support purposes is a legal paternity DNA test used to help establish the biological father-child relationship when paternity has not yet been legally established. Depending on the circumstances, legal paternity testing may be performed through the New Jersey Family Court system or voluntarily when both the alleged father and the child's mother agree to establish paternity before legal paperwork is signed.
Scenario One: Court-Ordered DNA Testing
When either the alleged father or the child's mother files a petition to establish paternity, the judge may order legal DNA testing. If the DNA test confirms the alleged father is the biological father, the court may then move forward with the legal process of establishing the father's rights and responsibilities.
Scenario Two: Voluntary Legal DNA Testing
The second scenario occurs before either party enters family court. When both the alleged father and the child's mother voluntarily agree to perform a legal paternity DNA test, they may establish the biological father-child relationship before the alleged father signs the Certificate of Parentage (COP).
Turnaround Time
Legal DNA tests ordered through the New Jersey Family Court system are generally processed according to the court's procedures, and turnaround times may take several weeks or longer depending on the court's workload. When legal paternity DNA testing is coordinated outside of family court, the average laboratory turnaround time is approximately two to three business days after all DNA samples are received by the laboratory.
Please note, the information shared on this page is not legal advice and we recommend you consult with a family law attorney.
Pricing for a legal paternity test for child support purposes starts at $375 for father and child or father, mother, and child. We recommend contacting our office at 866-269-2516 to speak with a DNA Consultant and to schedule an appointment.
The turnaround time depends on which avenue you take.
In cases where a judge orders a paternity test to be performed in court, you will generally go through the state. State‑oversight DNA tests can take several weeks to several months, depending on the jurisdiction’s workload.
In cases where you perform the test independently of the court, the turnaround time for the results is three business days from the date the lab receives all DNA samples. A copy of the results can be sent directly to the judge if requested, but all parties involved in the paternity test will receive a copy of the DNA result.
Yes. It is possible to perform a legal paternity DNA test while you are currently paying child support. Whether the DNA test can be used to overturn a judge's ruling will depend on your specific circumstances.
For example, if the alleged father signed the Certificate of Parentage (COP), or if he was presumed to be the child's legal father because the child was born during a marriage, additional legal issues may need to be addressed before the court considers changing an existing child support order. In some situations, the presumed father may have to demonstrate that the mother intentionally misrepresented the child's paternity.
Before attempting to overturn an existing child support order, we recommend speaking with a family law attorney about your specific circumstances.
One of the practical challenges some presumed fathers encounter is obtaining access to the child for DNA testing. When possible, it is advisable to work in concert with the child's mother throughout the process. Cooperation may reduce delays and avoid unnecessary complications.
It is also important to understand that when a legal paternity DNA test is performed independently without the mother's participation, the mother may challenge the DNA test results if the case later proceeds to family court. In many of these situations, the judge will order a new legal paternity DNA test through the court to independently establish paternity. For this reason, working in concert with the child's mother whenever possible may help avoid performing another DNA test.
Contact our office today at 866-269-2516 to schedule a DNA sample collection appointment with one of our DNA consultants today.
We service all of Essex and the entire state of New Jersey.