{"id":126,"date":"2020-11-10T10:51:43","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T23:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blackwoodfamilylawyers.com.au\/insights\/?p=126"},"modified":"2026-03-05T12:19:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T01:19:29","slug":"dna-testing-parentage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackwoodfamilylawyers.com.au\/insights\/dna-testing-parentage\/","title":{"rendered":"DNA Testing & Parentage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of different reasons why people may want to undertake DNA testing. It could be that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Somebody wants to prove that they are the biological father of a child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Somebody wants to prove that they are not the biological father of a child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. There is a need to end a dispute about whether someone is the biological father of a child.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The Family Law Act<\/em> allows the family law courts to make an order for a \u2018parentage testing procedure\u2019, commonly known as a DNA test in order to determine who the biological parents of a child are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    The Family Law Regulations<\/em> place strict requirements on laboratories that carry out DNA testing. There are a number of companies that sell \u2018DIY DNA testing kits\u2019 that may not meet these requirements. The results of these tests may not be accepted by the family law courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    In some cases, a DNA test may not be necessary. The Family Law Act <\/em>states that a person may be presumed to be the parent of a child in a number of circumstances, including where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. A child is born during a marriage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. A child is born and the mother was living with a man between 20 weeks and 44 weeks before the child\u2019s birth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. A person is listed on the birth certificate as the parent of a child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. A court has determined that a person is the parent of a child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. A man has signed a legal instrument that acknowledges that he is the father of a child.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      If a person is presumed to be a parent of a child and they do not believe that they are the parent, they would need to produce evidence to disprove that presumption. Similarly, if a person is not presumed to be a parent but they believe they are the parent, they would need to produce evidence to disprove the presumption that another person is the parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      The family law courts will not ordinarily order a DNA test unless there is objective evidence that establishes that the parentage of a child is in doubt. The family law courts do not ordinarily order a DNA test just to satisfy a potential parents personal doubts or suspicions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      Becoming a parent gives rise to a number of legal rights and responsibilities, including rights and responsibilities relating to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. The care of the child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. The financial support of the child, which is known as child support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. The financial support of the other parent, which is known as spousal maintenance or de facto partner maintenance .<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        If you have concerns about parentage, or you are considering DNA testing, we recommend you obtain advice from one of our experienced lawyers<\/a> before taking action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


        <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        There are a number of different reasons why people may want to undertake DNA testing. 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