As grandparents, you may find yourself in the emotionally taxing situation of having to ascertain whether your grandchild is actually your biological grandchild. We know you only want the best for the children, and we can help. Grandparentage DNA testing can provide you with answers, no matter the reason you are questioning your grandchild’s parentage.
There are several scenarios where a DNA test is necessary to determine grandparentage. You might be a grandparent who is just curious because your grandchild has little family resemblance, and you want to make sure he or she actually is your biological grandchild. Grandparents on the father’s side often initiate a paternity test with the cooperation of their son (the presumed father) and the mother. Or you may be a grandparent concerned because your son and the mother are not married, and you do not want to lose your connection with the grandchild if the mother and father later separate.
There are sometimes tragic circumstances when the father is deceased, and his parents want to make sure that his children are their biological grandchildren. Or if you are the mother of a child and the alleged father is deceased, you can ask his parents to participate in a grandparentage test to establish paternity. This test is very important for many people because they might not realize they still have a viable testing option, even in unusual circumstances.
In some instances, grandparents can be held liable for child support payments. If you are the parent of an underage father, you might be held responsible for child support payments if your child cannot afford to support his/her own child. In such a case, you might want to consider DNA testing to be absolutely sure the child is your biological grandchild.
Some grandparents face the unfortunate situation where their grandchild is in an unsafe situation, and they want to be granted custody. If you are a grandparent facing this situation and there is any doubt about the parentage of the child in question, consider having a grandparentage test performed prior to any legal action.
If you are a grandparent trying to gain visitation rights or custody of your grandchild, it is important to note that a DNA test confirming that you are indeed the child’s grandparents is just one step in the process. Most states do not have laws allowing grandparents to have visitation and there are many different stipulations for obtaining custody. Consider consulting an attorney regarding any legal rights that grandparents may have under the laws of your state.
In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled, in Troxel v. Granville, that parents who provide adequate care have a Constitutional right to decide with whom their children associate. This case was unique in that the father was deceased. In most court cases, protecting the parental rights of both the mother and the father will result in protecting the grandparents' relationship with the children.
Whatever the reason you are questioning your grandchild’s parentage, whether you are simply curious and need the peace of mind or you are about to take legal action, we can provide you with a definitive answer to your very important question.