Legal DNA Paternity Testing Services in Sacramento

A legal DNA test may be required for various reasons. Some of the most common situations include:

Child custody or visitation disputes

Determining child support

Life insurance claims

Accessing military or social security benefits

Resolving inheritance disputes

Will and estate planning

Name changes

Correcting or updating birth certificates

Completing tax forms

Adoption proceedings

Please note that this test is not suitable for immigration purposes.

Samples are collected using a simple cheek swab, which is completely pain-free and suitable for individuals of any age, including newborns.

For a court-admissible legal DNA test, samples will be collected by a sample collector under strict chain-of-custody procedures. This ensures that the DNA is collected from the correct individuals, all necessary documentation is completed, and the samples are securely transported to the laboratory, eliminating any risk of tampering.

The professional sample collector will provide the collection kit and handle all necessary paperwork, so you only need to attend your appointment.

Participants can have their DNA collected at different times and/or locations as needed.

 The legal DNA testing is completely 100% accurate and reliable. 

When you arrive, all adult participants must have proper valid government issued ID. We will make a photocopy. All participants will have a photo taken

We will collect the DNA specimen. 

You will sign the legal document "Chain of custody" form

We will securely ship your samples in tamper-proof packaging to our AABB-accredited lab for testing.    

You will receive your results via email delivering your confidential results within 3 business days. 

 The primary difference between a legal DNA test and a home (or peace of mind) DNA test lies in how the results can be used. Legal DNA test results are court-admissible, while home DNA test results are not.
Legal DNA tests are accepted by courts because they follow a strict chain-of-custody process, with a photo of participants and samples collected by an independent, trained professional. This ensures that the samples are taken from the correct individuals, all necessary documentation is completed, and the samples are securely transported to the laboratory, minimizing any risk of tampering.
In contrast, a home DNA test allows you to collect samples yourself in the privacy of your own home. Although the lab analyzes these samples in the same way as for legal tests, the results cannot be used for legal purposes. 

The mother does not have to be swabbed for DNA. However, whenever possible it can help strengthen the results to be more conclusive. Sometimes the test can come back inconclusive, so the mother's DNA may be needed to test. But this is not always the case.