💡 Legal vs. Non-Legal Testing
Legal (Chain-of-Custody) tests require government-issued photo ID, third-party witnessing, and tamper-evident packaging. Results are court-admissible. Non-Legal (Peace of Mind) tests use the same laboratory analysis but without legal documentation. Results are for personal knowledge only and cannot be used in court.
Legal Paternity & Maternity
Legal Paternity DNA Test
Court-admissible paternity testing with strict chain-of-custody. Results legally binding for child support, custody, immigration, and inheritance. Includes buccal swab collection for alleged father and child.
Who needs it: Child support cases, custody disputes, immigration petitions (I-130), adoption proceedings, social security benefits, inheritance claims, and any situation requiring legally defensible proof of paternity.
Legal Maternity DNA Test
Court-admissible maternity testing. Used for immigration cases, adoption verification, hospital baby mix-up concerns, and custody disputes. Strict chain-of-custody maintained throughout.
Who needs it: Immigration petitions requiring proof of biological mother-child relationship, adoption agencies verifying biological maternity, and custody/visitation cases.
Relationship DNA Testing
Sibling DNA Test
Determines if two individuals share one or both biological parents (full or half siblings). Available as legal (court-admissible) or non-legal (peace of mind) testing.
Who needs it: Individuals verifying sibling relationships for personal knowledge, inheritance disputes, immigration sponsorship, and family reunification cases.
Grandparentage DNA Test
Establishes biological relationship between grandparents and grandchild. Useful when alleged father is unavailable for testing. Legal and non-legal options available.
Who needs it: Families seeking to establish paternity indirectly through grandparentage when the alleged father is deceased or unavailable. Used in inheritance and immigration cases.
Avuncular (Aunt/Uncle) DNA Test
Determines if an aunt or uncle is biologically related to a niece or nephew. Useful for family relationship verification and immigration cases.
Who needs it: Individuals verifying aunt/uncle-niece/nephew relationships for personal knowledge, immigration sponsorship (I-130), and inheritance matters.
Additional DNA Test Participant
Add an additional person to any existing DNA test for comparison purposes. Examples: adding a second alleged father, additional sibling, or grandparent for enhanced accuracy.
Who needs it: Anyone who needs to add another family member to an existing DNA test order for more comprehensive comparison and increased accuracy.
Peace of Mind (Non-Legal)
Non-Legal Paternity DNA Test
Same laboratory accuracy as legal test but without chain-of-custody documentation. Results are NOT admissible in court. For personal knowledge only. More affordable option.
Who needs it: Individuals seeking personal peace of mind regarding paternity. Results are for private use and cannot be used for legal proceedings, child support, or custody.
Non-Legal Maternity DNA Test
Determines biological relationship between mother and child. Results for personal knowledge only — not court-admissible. Same laboratory accuracy as legal version.
Who needs it: Individuals seeking personal confirmation of maternity, adopted children seeking to verify biological relationships, and private family matters.
Specialty DNA Testing
Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP)
Determines paternity as early as 7 weeks into pregnancy using a simple blood draw from the mother. No risk to the fetus. SNP microarray technology analyzes fetal DNA found in maternal blood.
Who needs it: Expectant mothers seeking to establish paternity before birth. Completely safe for mother and baby. Results can be used for legal proceedings with proper chain-of-custody.