Fathers rights to obtaining DNA sample from potential child?

Answer 1

It depends on the circumstances.

If the mother (or the state) has filed a lawsuit claiming that you are the child, in the U.S., you generally have the right to request a genetic test (the cost to be paid by the losing side) to confirm/disprove paternity. The same rule applies for the mother if you are the one filing the lawsuit.

If paternity has already been established (e.g. you signed an acknowledgment of paternity or failed to respond to a prior paternity case), you probably do not have a right to obtain a genetic test as you missed your one chance to obtain one.

Answer 2

You can get a paternity test when the baby is born, but it is up to the mother if you want to get one while she is still pregnant. That kind of testing increases the risk to the foetus, and the mother has to decide whether or not she wants to take that risk. It is her job to protect that child if she has decided to bring the pregnancy to term. My son had to go through this, and it was hard for him. He was extremely skeptical at that point, and ended up getting TWO DNA tests once the baby was born. It's funny when we think about it now - they are mirror images of each other. But, life goes on...

Answer 3

gemin is absolutely correct.