What Is a Legal Paternity Test Used For?

A legal paternity test produces a laboratory report that can be used as official evidence in situations such as:

• Family court proceedings
• Changing or removing a father’s name on a birth certificate
• Disputed wills or inheritance cases
• Immigration applications

These reports are accepted because of the strict chain of custody involved:

• Verified ID is required for all test participants
• Mouth swabs are collected by a trained sample collection officer
• The entire process is fully documented and tracked
• All legal paternity tests provided by Crystal Health Group (through DNA Clinics) are analysed in a UKAS ISO 17025–accredited laboratory that appears on the Ministry of Justice’s list of approved providers. This ensures your results are fully compliant and admissible for court, immigration, and other official purposes.

This rigorous process ensures the evidence stands up in legal or official settings.

What Is a Peace of Mind Paternity Test?

A peace of mind test is designed for private use, when results are needed for reassurance but not for legal proceedings.

Key points:

• Participants are not required to provide ID
• The same accredited laboratory facilities are used, giving high confidence in the science
• A self-collection kit can be used at home for convenience and discretion
• Kits are available online or from high-street retailers such as Boots

Peace of mind testing is not an inferior option — it’s simply intended for different circumstances.

Can I Use a Peace of Mind Test for Legal Purposes?

No. A peace of mind test report will be rejected if submitted to a court, government body, or solicitor.

This is where some people run into problems: they choose the cheaper home test kit, only to find they need to repeat the process with a legal test later.

That said, there are times when a peace of mind test can be useful before taking the legal route. For example:

• If there is serious doubt about paternity, a peace of mind test provides a quicker and lower-cost first step before committing to a legal test.
• A paternity test is not legally required to add a father’s name to a previously blank birth certificate. Still, many clients choose to confirm paternity privately before doing so.