Proving The Paterntiy Of A Child: Paternity Testing In Ireleand

Paternity testing in Ireland can offer a selection of DNA paternity testing options to prove the paternity of a child for inheritance, immigration or any other situation where proving the father of a child is necessary. It is only relatively recently that through such DNA paternity testing, Ireland can now offer such facilities to the public and Irish residents can now have the paternity of a child determined on request.

In the past, samples taken for private DNA paternity testing in Ireland have had to sent out of the country for analysis. Yes, it is true that there has been an official availability of DNA paternity testing in Ireland for a number of years, but that has not been available to the public on request until recently. DNA paternity testing in Ireland is now available if you have a need to determine if a certain man is or is not the father of a child.

First, a quick discussion on why the need for DNA paternity testing in Ireland has increased lately, and why a number of testing companies have decided to set up office in the country. Because Ireland is part of the European Union, it must permit a number of immigrants to enter the country from other member states of the EU - not all of which may be be legally entitled to do so through their paternity.

Although immigration generally proceeds smoothly, there are circumstances where there might be a question over the paternity of people claimed to be close relatives of a resident. Because of the need to prove beyond doubt the true relationships between migrants bringing their families with them when they enter the country, DNA testing in Ireland, UK, France and other western European countries will become an increasingly important tool in relationship testing.

Here are some reasons why its membership of the European Union has generated the need for DNA paternity testing in Ireland, and why it is leading to the set-up of testing facilities. Such services are available to the public throughout Europe, and the majority of these use DNA paternity testing for the same reasons.

1. Peace of Mind

The mother, potential father and the child might all at some time need definitive proof of paternity simply to set their mind at rest. Children often want to know who their real father is , and both the apparent father and the mother of a child want the peace of mind that comes with knowing the paternity of 'their' child beyond doubt. All that a woman can be certain of is that the child is hers. A man only has the mother's word that he is the father of a child, and he might require legal proof of that at some time.

When considering the need for paternity testing, Ireland has generally been believed in the past not to be profitable enough for its own private testing service, but with the expansion of the EU it is now apparent that Ireland will have immigration problems just as many other countries in Western Europe will have. First, some of the more traditional requirements for paternity testing in Ireland or any other country..

2. Wills and Inheritances

When a will is being written or even when an inheritance issue is being challenged, there might be a need for any children involved to be subject to DNA testing. Because Ireland is a member of the EU, it is possible for children demanding a share of an inheritance through their direct relationship to the deceased to claim that their Statutory or Human Rights are being infringed if their claim is not recognized.

Due to doubts as to the true relationships of children to a specific testator, many young people have been excluded from the wills by men not wishing to leave an inheritance to who is wrongly believed to be another man's child. A relatively simple DNA paternity test will establish who the father is (or is not), and with respect to DNA testing Ireland can offer its own private DNA testing facility available to the Irish public.

3. Determining Siblings

Another reason for paternity testing in Ireland is that it is sometimes necessary to determine whether or not two young people are siblings - or at least share a common father. This may also be for the purposes of wills or inheritances but there are many alternative reasons for paternity to to be established beyond doubt. It is not legally possible for such siblings to marry, for example, and this is not the only reason why it may be essential to determine the true parenthood of children.

4. Immigration

Immigration can be another reason for paternity testing, Ireland being part of the EU and therefore subject to allowing immigrants of certain nationalities to take up residence in the country. Some immigrants may insist that others requesting admission into Ireland are in fact their children or parents. Through the use of DNA paternity testing, Ireland immigration authorities can establish the truth of these claims one way or the other.

Finally, the purpose of paternity testing is to determine the paternity of a child beyond question. It should be understood, however, that not all paternity tests in Ireland are legally accepted by the courts, and if the test is for a legal purpose, such as an inheritance claim, rather than for peace of mind, the testing must be carried out according to strict legal rules.

Nevertheless, the peace of mind tests are generally enough for most paternity testing, Ireland being no different to any other country in that respect, although there will no doubt be an increasing need for legal DNA paternity testing in Ireland as immigration increases.