Legal Paternity Test

Families may need a legal paternity test when documented DNA results are required for a court matter or other official purpose. A legal paternity test uses chain-of-custody sample collection so the results can be submitted for matters such as child support, child custody, birth certificate changes, immigration, inheritance, Social Security benefits, IRS tax deductions, and other proceedings where properly collected DNA evidence may be requested. Acceptance of results is determined by the court, agency, or attorney handling the case.

When a court or agency requires a legal DNA test, proper sample collection and documentation are essential. If the tested man is the biological father, legal paternity test results typically show a probability of paternity of 99.99% or higher. If he is not the biological father, the results show that he is excluded. Final acceptance of the report depends on the requirements of the court, agency, or legal matter involved.

Order Legal Paternity Test

Accredited U.S. Laboratory
Testing is performed by an AABB-accredited partner laboratory in the United States.
25+ Years of Service
For more than 25 years, we have helped families arrange paternity and relationship DNA testing nationwide.
46 Marker Testing
Higher marker testing may provide stronger statistical support in certain complex relationship cases.
Fast, Private Results
Results are delivered with secure and confidential handling of samples and reporting throughout the testing process.

Court-Admissible Legal Paternity Testing With AABB Accredited Lab Analysis and Chain of Custody

Our legal paternity test is designed for cases in which properly documented DNA results are needed for court or other official use. We offer chain-of-custody sample collection through a network clinic or by shipping a collection kit directly to your doctor’s office. Each case is handled with attention to documentation, identification, and specimen control so that the final report meets legal testing requirements.

Our legal paternity test compares the DNA profiles of the alleged father and child using validated STR analysis performed by an AABB-accredited partner laboratory. Results are reported using standard relationship-testing methods, with chain-of-custody procedures required for legal use.

At Your Doctor's Office
$195
- 24
  Marker Count
- C.O.C.
  Collection
- High
  Conclusiveness
- FREE
  2-Way Shipping
At Our Collection Clinic
$325
- 24
  Marker Count
- C.O.C.
  Collection
- High
  Conclusiveness
- FREE
  2-Way Shipping
Typical Competitors
Up to $500
- 16-24
  Marker Count
- Variable
  Collection
- Variable
  Conclusiveness
- Variable Pricing
  on Shipping

The Legal Paternity Test Process

The testing process is quite simple. When you place your order, you may choose to use our professional collection service or have a test collection kit shipped to your doctor's office.

Order Legal Paternity Test

Place Your Order & Choose Collection Method
Start your legal paternity test by ordering online or by phone and selecting either professional collection at a clinic or having a kit shipped to your doctor’s office.
Schedule & Complete Sample Collection
If using your doctor, confirm that the office can perform a legal DNA collection and we will ship the chain-of-custody kit directly to that office. If using our professional collection service, we will schedule your appointment at a nearby clinic.
Samples Sent to Lab & Testing Begins
After collection, all samples and documentation are sent directly to the laboratory. You’ll receive an email confirmation once your samples are received and testing is underway.
Receive Your Legal DNA Report
When testing is complete, the report can be emailed as a PDF if selected, and a notarized hard copy is mailed to the billing address on the order.

For legal paternity test results to be considered for court or other official use, two basic requirements generally apply: the testing laboratory must meet recognized AABB accreditation standards, and the sample collection must follow documented chain-of-custody procedures. For that reason, legal collection materials should be sent directly to the approved collection site, such as a doctor’s office or clinic, rather than to a participant.

A legal paternity test must also be collected by an authorized third party, typically a medical professional and, in some cases, another approved collector depending on the requirements of the case. With PaternityUSA, you may use your doctor for sample collection or schedule collection through one of our network clinic locations. Collection by a friend, family member, or other interested party may cause the results to be rejected for legal use.

We strictly follow established legal DNA testing procedures designed to protect the integrity of the collection, documentation, and final report. Each case is handled carefully and confidentially so that your results are prepared according to legal testing requirements.

What is Chain of Custody?

Chain of custody is the documented process used to verify who provided each DNA sample, when the samples were collected, and how they were handled from collection through laboratory receipt. For a legal paternity test, samples must be collected by an approved third-party collector who checks identification, witnesses the collection, completes the required paperwork, and sends the samples and documentation to the laboratory according to procedure. We work with more than 4,000 collection locations nationwide to help make this process convenient.

Testing is performed by an AABB-accredited laboratory and reviewed under established laboratory procedures. Our goal is to provide accurate relationship-testing results together with the documentation required for legal DNA testing.

We Also Provide Informational DNA Paternity Testing

If you do not need results for court or an official matter, an informational home paternity test may be the better option. The laboratory analysis is comparable, but informational testing does not include the chain-of-custody collection and documentation required for legal use.

DNA Collection

Samples are typically collected with a painless cheek swab. To support quality control, testing procedures include repeat review or confirmatory laboratory checks as required by the laboratory’s protocol. Before collection, participants should avoid eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gum for the recommended time period and should follow the collector’s instructions.

When The Father Is Deceased

If the alleged father is deceased, first check whether a retained tissue or blood sample may be available through the coroner, medical examiner, hospital, or another authorized source. Our case managers can review the available specimen type and discuss whether direct postmortem testing or another legal relationship test may be appropriate.

When a direct paternity test can be performed, it is usually the most informative option. However, if a direct sample is not available, legal sibling, grandparent or avuncular Aunt-Uncle DNA testing may be considered depending on the family members available for testing.

Fully Accredited USA Lab

All legal DNA tests are performed in partner U.S. AABB-accredited USA lab and reviewed by PhD geneticists. Testing is CLIA-certified for reliability, and AABB accredited for court admissibility. Moreover all legal DNA tests adhere to AABB Standards for Relationship Testing Laboratories (17th edition effective January 1, 2026).