Sometimes it can be complicated when attempting to establish paternity. In many situations, the alleged father is either unavailable or otherwise unwilling to participate in the testing process. However, when the alleged father is not available, there may be other options. One such option is known as grandparent DNA testing.
The test can be done for either side of the family, whether paternal or maternal, to establish the identity of the biological parents, grandparents, etc.
Why Would You Need A Grandparent DNA Test?
It might come as a shock to a few, but instead of parents, many grandparents initiate this test. Their concerns stem from the fact that they might not be the actual biological grandparents of the child and simply want to have peace of mind (or possibly custody and legal visitation rights).
Being a grandparent takes a toll on the aged ones. It can be both emotionally and financially draining. Thus, understandably, the grandparents go for the grandparent DNA testing to validate their connection with the grandchild that they will be investing their emotional and financial well-being on.
However, apart from peace of mind, there might be other situational and legal concerns involved to require grandparent DNA testing. For example:
- Death of the alleged father
- The potential father has gone missing
- Health-related concerns and issues
- Inheritance
- Legal custody battles
How Does A Grandparent DNA Test Work?
Unlike the common paternity testing, grandparent DNA testing and analysis require more attention to detail, like putting together a puzzle. For example, the more participants involved in the testing, the more there will be puzzle pieces to complete the big picture.
However, with that being said, usually, the following people are required to provide the DNA for the grandparent DNA testing.
- One or both of the child’s biological parents
- The child
- One or both of the paternal (or maternal side) of the child’s grandparents
It is important to note here that even though the test can be conducted with a single grandparent, it is better if both the grandparents are available to test. For instance, if you are going for paternity testing, both the parents of the child’s alleged biological father would be required to obtain the most conclusive results. And, if it is possible, the child’s mother should also participate in the test to further improve the odds of a conclusive result. With that being said, the vast majority of grandparents and even simple paternity testing is done successfully without obtaining a sample from the mother.
Unfortunately, the results can be inconclusive or blurred if the DNA testing is conducted with a single grandparent or without the mother. It is better to have as many puzzle pieces to complete the big picture accordingly.
What Are The Legal Limitations Of Conducting A Grandparent DNA Test?
It is essential to remember that you cannot conduct a grandparent DNA test at home if you need results for immigration or inheritance, etc. Legal results (those which tend to be admissible in court) typically require that the samples be collected by a disinterested third party (the DNA Collection Site).
Similarly, suppose you do not carry the legal authority to act on behalf of a minor child. In that case, you will have to go through added efforts of getting the mandated consents before you are allowed to submit a minor child’s DNA for grandparent DNA testing.
Final Thoughts
Even if you don’t know that your grandkids are truly yours and you may love each child the same, a grandparent’s DNA test results work as a great bonding tool to establish a valid and solid relationship between grandparents and the child. So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know all there is to know about grandparent DNA testing, connect with Health Link DNA today to schedule a grandparent testing appointment right away.