Paternity Test: The Importance of Knowing the Truth
“You are NOT the father!” Do you hear these words in the back of your mind when you think of paternity testing? So how would you feel if you actually do find out you are not the father? If you have been living under the same roof and raising the child in question, you probably aren’t too happy to hear this news. The same goes for responsible fathers paying child support to a child who is not biologically theirs. The deception and pain are unimaginable. Here are some quick stats:
Several researchers peg the non-paternity rate (the percentage of men who think they are the biological father, but in reality are not) at 10% worldwide. So that means 1 in every 10 fathers is not really the biological father.
Another interesting statistic is that 29% of the time when a man questioning paternity takes a paternity test, he will find his suspicions confirmed. This means that nearly 3 of every 10 men who have a paternity doubt are not the biological fathers.
The message here is that men who question paternity should have a paternity test. The sooner the better. After the child is born, a simple cheek swab from the infant, along with the alleged father’s cheek swab, is all that is needed to answer this important question. Here are a few of the many reasons paternity tests are important:
Sense of identity — a child knowing to whom they are biologically linked
Health history — hereditary factors influence preventative health measures
Financial support — many households require two incomes to keep up with the cost of living
Benefits — health insurance, social security and veteran benefits benefit biological children
Government Aid — Paternity allows parents to seek government assistance if they qualify.
