If you’re in a position where the father of your child is asking for a paternity test, don’t be disconcerted. It may seem offensive, but in actual fact, all he’s asking for is peace of mind.
Paternity Fraud
Paternity fraud is a crime that is on the up. There are many fathers out there, who are paying for children, as well as giving them care and love, to children that aren’t theirs. While the child will of course be deserving of such love, there may be doubt as to whether it is fair to allow a man to pay for child that isn’t biologically related. So try not to take it personally, he’s being savvy, almost like prenuptial agreement.
An Issue of Trust
You may feel that your partner doesn’t trust you when he asks for a paternity test. However, simply ask him why, and it may all become clear. Many people have bad experiences when it comes to fatherhood. For instance, their mother may not know who their father is, or a friend may have taken care of children for years who weren’t really his. So though it might be an issue of trust, it may have a legitimate reason behind it.
The Father-Child Relationship
A nagging uncertainty will affect the father-child relationship. The constant ‘is s/he really mine?’ will spring up every day, unbidden and make the father withdraw or dismiss or exclude the child, even if in very small ways. A reluctance to bond and risk his own hurt will form, and the father-child relationship will never quite be the same. Confirmation of paternity will clear it up with a definitive yes or no answer, and make life much easier in the future.
How It Works
In the UK, you can’t get a paternity test on the NHS, so you have to purchase one. You can order a DNA test online from places like Easy DNA Australia, and it’ll be sent to you by post. You simply follow the instructions and send it back to the lab, where they’ll get your results for you. To get DNA samples, all you have to do is to use the swabs to rub on the inside of your mouth.
They determine results by comparing the DNA samples of the child and the potential father.