A legal DNA paternity test follows a strict chain-of-custody process so your results can be used for any court or legal purpose, including birth certificate amendments, child support, custody, social security, and inheritance cases.
The most common reason families come to us for a legal test is to add a name to a birth certificate, or to have one removed. But "legal" simply means the result is admissible. If a court, attorney, or government agency needs to see your results, you need a legal test.
To add or remove a father's name from a birth certificate after the fact, most states (including California) require a legal DNA test to start this process.
Family courts use DNA results to establish paternity in support, custody, and visitation cases. Your attorney will tell you if one is needed.
Survivor benefits, inheritance claims, and similar government matters typically require court-admissible DNA evidence.
The IRS sometimes requests a legal DNA test to verify dependents, qualifying relationships, or claim disputes. Our tests meet their requirements.
Estate cases and probate proceedings often require verified DNA evidence to establish biological lineage.
Our legal tests are valid for any court or legal purpose. If anyone official needs to see the result, this is the test you need.
The lab work is identical to a peace-of-mind test. What changes is everything around it: how the samples are collected, who witnesses it, what documentation is created, and how the results are presented.
That extra process is what makes a legal test admissible in court. It's also why a legal test costs more than peace of mind, and why you should choose this option if any court, attorney, or government agency will be seeing your result.
Compare prices & tests →This is what separates a legal DNA test from a personal one. Every step is documented, witnessed, and verified by an AABB Certified Technician, and the sample is processed by an AABB-accredited lab. That accreditation is not optional. A result is only court-admissible when the lab itself is AABB-accredited.
Every adult participant brings a valid, up-to-date ID: state ID, driver's license, passport, or military ID. This applies even to adults signing on behalf of a child who isn't being tested themselves.
Your AABB Certified Technician takes a photo of every participant and every adult present, including anyone signing on behalf of a child. This becomes part of the official record.
Children do not need an ID, birth certificate, or any other document. A parent or legal guardian signs on the child's behalf.
Samples are collected in person by your AABB Certified Technician, who witnesses every step and confirms the chain has never been broken.
You sign the chain-of-custody form at the appointment. The form remains with the lab as part of the official record protecting the integrity of the result.
Your final results document carries a notarized stamp, which is what makes it admissible in any court or legal proceeding.
One transparent price, no add-ons hiding in the fine print. The mother can always be included at no additional cost.
Call or text us 7 days a week, 9 AM – 9 PM. A real person (not a robot) will walk you through the process and schedule your appointment.