How to Determine the Paternity of Your Child

Paternity can be determined by a simple test that can even be done at home.

1. 1, Think about when your child could have been conceived. You need to think about your menstrual cycles and determine when you would have ovulated.
   
   
2. 2, Consider when you had intercourse, and with whom.
   
   
3. 3, Understand that paternity is determined by testing DNA from the alleged father, the child and the mother.
   
   
4. 4, Know that DNA testing is done by drawing blood or by taking a buccal swab, which is when cells are wiped from inside the mouth with a cotton swab. The three samples are then compared for similarities.
5. 5,
   
   
   Understand that paternity tests can be done during pregnancy or when the child is as young as one day old.
6. 6, Recognize that you can have a court order the test if you file a paternity case.
   
   
7. 7, Expect to pay a lab a large fee to perform a blood test. Paternity testing is not covered by insurance. If you are collecting public assistance, the state agency will file a paternity case for you and pay the fees in an effort to locate the father and charge him for child support.
   
   
8. 8, Do a home paternity test if you don't want to go to court or file any legal papers. Many companies now offer buccal swab tests you do at home and mail in for analysis.
   
   
9. 9, Wait for your results. It may take up to a month to obtain them.
   
   
10. 10, Realize that the test can determine the father with up to 99 percent accuracy and can rule a man out as the father with 100 percent accuracy.