Getting a Test for Paternity at Birth: Why Don't Men Do It?

What would you do if you found out from a test for paternity that your ten year old son or daughter was not really yours? How would your son or daughter feel? Would you still feel responsible for supporting the child financially?

Unfortunately there have been many cases of this exact scenario occurring in families across the globe. The repercussions are sometimes devastating. It is a sad day for a child to learn that the man he or she thought was Daddy is in fact not even related.

Right after a child's birth, most new dads won't voluntarily go in for a test for paternity for a variety of reasons.

Newness of the Baby

Most people who don't have kids will usually ask, why didn't you just go and get a test for paternity in the hospital when the child was born? It sounds sensible in theory, but in reality it is a little inappropriate for a father to immediately say to a woman after her child is born "Let's go get a swab done."

Plus, when the father holds that brand new baby in his arms, he really does want to believe that it is his child, regardless of other circumstances. All of the drama and suspicions go right out the window when the physical baby is laying in your arms and fathers are more likely to sign the birth certificate to lay claim on this wonderful new being. So this is one possible reason why many fathers will probably not get a test for paternity as soon as they should.

Don't Want Child to Think It Wasn't Wanted

Also, a father who genuinely loves the child, even if he suspects that it may not be his, doesn't want the child to learn later on down the line that he had a paternity test. If the father and mother ever get into a fight or disagreement in the future, the information about this earlier test for paternity could come out and the child's feelings could be hurt.

Trusting of the Mother

Many times, men are very trusting of the mother for whatever reason. Maybe they could just never imagine that she might be with another man. Or they've been with the mother for years and assume that they are completely exclusive. Men in long term relationships with the mother are much less likely to get a test for paternity early on in the child's life, especially if they are still a couple at the child's birth.

Cost and Ignorance of Process

Finally, possibly the biggest reason why many men don't go for a DNA test for paternity is because they cannot afford it, or they do not know the proper channels to take in order to get something done. These men are usually the ones who end up wrapped in a legal mess years down the line.

Though it's a touchy subject, when it comes down to whether a would be father should have a DNA test for paternity as close to a child's birth as possible the pros outweigh the cons. There are even some home DNA tests available if you don't want to make a public deal of this (always do full research before relying on the results of a DNA test). You don't want this information to suddenly be brought to light when the child is old enough to know what's going on.