The Basics of Paternity Testing in Tulsa County

Knowing the basics of paternity testing in Tulsa can be an essential step in legal matters concerning child support, custody, and parental rights in Tulsa County. In many states, state laws and local regulations guide the testing process to ensure fairness. If you’re a potential father hoping to create relationship with a child or a mother looking to confirm a child’s paternity for legal reasons, knowing how paternity testing works can help clarify the process, as well as rights and responsibilities. This article will help to clarify and explain the basics of paternity testing in Tulsa County, including how the process works and what it can mean for a family.

Understanding What Paternity Testing Is

Paternity testing helps determine whether someone is a child’s biological father. The most commonly used form of testing is DNA profiling. For this test, the lab analyzes and compares samples from the potential father and child. The preferred method of DNA testing is a non-invasive buccal swab test, where a cotton swab is rubbed on the inside of a person’s cheek to collect cells that can be tested by the lab.

What are the Legal Grounds to Request a Paternity Test in Tulsa County?

In Tulsa County, any party in the paternity of a child can request testing to take place. Some potential parties are:

• Mothers: Can request a test to help establish paternity of their child to be used in matters such as custody or child support issues.
• Potential Fathers: Wanting to confirm is they are biologically related to the child in question to confirm their rights and responsibilities for the child.
• Courts: A court has the ability to order a paternity test during cases regarding custody and child support to help determine the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved.

First, one of the parties involved initiates the request either privately or through a court order. For private means, the parties must agree to undergo testing and can proceed privately by using an accredited lab. If parties cannot agree, one can file a petition for the court to mandate the paternity testing to take place.

Legal Process behind Paternity Testing

1. The Test Itself: After initiating the process, sample collection and analysis will take place to begin the testing. The parties required to give samples are the alleged father, the child, and occasionally the mother if needed.
2. Getting Results: The results indicating the potential of paternity are usually available within a few weeks. These results are shown as a percentage and 99% or higher is generally seen as proof of paternity.
3. Legally Acknowledging Paternity: After confirming paternity, the focus shifts to legal acknowledgement of paternity through actions including adding his name to the child’s birth certificate and adjusting previous child support or custody agreements.

The process of paternity testing can be fairly simple, however, all parties must cooperate with the necessary procedures.

Consequences of the Test Results

Regardless of what the test says, the results can impact all parties. To the child, it can involve changes in inheritance, child custody, benefits, or receiving medical history information. For the mother, it often affects child support and custody agreements. For the father, it can change his rights and responsibilities as a parent, including financial obligations and visitation.

Tulsa Custody Lawyers

Understanding the process and basics of paternity testing in Tulsa County can be difficult. The process itself can also be emotionally demanding for all parties, and strong consideration. However, a child custody lawyer can help you understand and fight for your rights when paternity is in dispute. Our child custody attorneys practice in most counties throughout Oklahoma. Call today and get a free and confidential consultation with one of the Tulsa custody attorneys at Kania Law Office at 918-743-2233 or click here to ask a free online question.