Could someone explain to me why a mother's DNA would be needed for a paternity suit?

Question

Doesn't a paternity suit imply that the party in question is who the father is? So why would the mother's DNA be needed instead of just the child's and the father(s) who trying to determine paternity.

Answer 1

Good question. I've never heard of the mother's DNA being required.

Answer 2

There are several reasons. The most important is to be sure that the child in question truly does belong to the mother in question.

The reasons behind this are varied. First of all, there have been cases of children being switched at birth, and it is important to verify that the child being tested truly does belong to the mother who has custody of said child.

The second reason is, as others have stated, to be sure that the proper child is being tested. There are some rather conniving people who would take a friend's child into a paternity test, just to make it look as if the child's real father is not a DNA match.

Regardless of the reasons behind the requirement, most paternity suits, whether staged by the mother for child support reasons, or the father for visitation reasons, do require the testing of the child and BOTH parents. You must comply with the court's request to get the test completed.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

When they do a DNA test the require the mother, father, and child's DNA. The mother is required because the child share's DNA 50/50 with their parents. To be able to give an accurate DNA result they need to compare the samples from both parents with the child in question. They can do the test with out the mother but then they can't give a 99.9% result. I was told this when I had to go thou a paternity case myself and had to have DNA done. I hope that explained it okay.

Answer 4

To make sure that the child is indeed the biological child of the mother. In the Anna Nicole Smith case they are trying to make sure that both men that are claiming to be the father are not trying to pull a fast one and swap the baby. So therefore they use the mothers DNA to make sure that is the biological child of the mother.

Answer 5

Me and my sister went through that a few years ago where my father demanded a paternity test. Not only did they draw blood from us but they also did from my mother (a lot more from her than us) I never really thought to ask her why tho but most likely it is what everyone's saying, just to make sure that the kids being tested are indeed those of the mothers.

Answer 6

also in the case of Anna Nicole Smith, if this is who the question is about, considering the little girl has inherited some 490 million dollars and there are, last I heard, 5 men claiming to be her father, I am sure they need to make sure that the DNA is Annas so that some dumb guy who just wants the money is not bringing his bio daughter in for the test.

Answer 7

In the case of Anna Nicole Smith, they're trying to ensure that the DNA given from the baby is ACTUALLY Anna Nicole Smith's baby (i.e. they didn't switch the baby just for the test so that the actual father looks like he isn't).

Answer 8

To make sure the baby being tested is actually the correct baby. Somebody could bring in a random baby just so it shows that the man isn't the father but if the baby matches the mother you'll know it's the right baby.

Answer 9

I would guess to make sure they didn't switch the baby and also that they could easily find the matches between the father and baby with out wondering where or who the other dna matches to.

Answer 10

Maybe to make sure this is her child. Don't forget some children have been mixed up in the past.