The main reason for choosing a legal paternity test is that it is officially recognized as legal evidence. There are important differences between a private paternity test and a legal paternity test, and each is used for different purposes. Below are some reasons to choose a legal paternity test.
1.When required as legal evidence
- Custody and child support disputes: Legal paternity appraisals are required when a parent-child relationship needs to be proven in court in custody disputes resulting from divorce or separation, or in child support payment issues. A legal paternity test is required because private testimony is not admissible as evidence in court.
- Inheritance: A legal paternity test may be required when the parent-child relationship is unclear or when proof of parent-child relationship is needed to establish inheritance rights.
2. when required for official documents and procedures
- Correction or certification of birth certificates: If the father is not listed at the time of birth, or if he is misidentified, a legal paternity test may be required to correct or amend the birth certificate. In this case, a legal paternity test is required because a private test will not be accepted as a necessary proof document for the procedure.
- Nationality and Immigration Procedures: When applying for nationality or a visa, a paternity test may be required to prove the parent-child relationship. Such official procedures require a legally recognized paternity test.
3. to determine the legal responsibility of the parent-child relationship
- Clarify your legal responsibilities as a father: If you accept the parent-child relationship, you are legally responsible as a father (e.g., paying child support).To clarify this, a legally valid appraisal is required. Since private appraisals are only informal proof and have no legal validity, legal appraisals are necessary to establish paternal responsibility.
4. when required for international procedures
- International Child Custody Disputes: When there is an international parent-child relationship or child custody dispute, legal expert testimony is required to prove the parent-child relationship as formal evidence in legal proceedings in various countries. Legal expert testimony is especially applicable in international proceedings, where rigorous evidence is required.
5. To ensure the reliability of the appraisal
- Rigorous evidence management: In legal paternity testing, the chain-of-custody is strictly followed and the process from specimen collection to testing and reporting is publicly documented. This reduces the risk of falsification of test results and increases reliability.
- Involvement of public authorities and experts: In legal appraisals, specimens are collected by accredited facilities and experts, and tests are conducted according to official procedures, thus increasing the reliability of the evidence.
6. To avoid future problems
- Peace of mind from having legal validity: Private appraisals are useful for the parties to reach an agreement, but if a legal dispute arises in the future, a new appraisal may have to be performed due to the lack of legal validity. By choosing a legal appraisal from the beginning, you have the peace of mind of avoiding future problems.
Summary
Legal paternity appraisals are essential for proving the parent-child relationship and establishing legal liability in courts and official proceedings. While private appraisals are useful for personal confirmation, they do not have legal validity, so it is important to opt for legal appraisals in formal situations.
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Supervisor of the article
Dr. Hiroshi Oka
Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Medical Doctor