How Do I Establish Paternity if the Father is Deceased?

Identifying the biological father of the child is easily accomplished through paternity tests. But what if the father is deceased? The main question is can you get a paternity test with the deceased father? Yes, it is possible to get it done. The paternity test is also supported by the family court judges and other governmental organizations to identify the biological father of the child. However, before starting the procedure for a paternity test with the deceased father, do this step. You must contact your lawyer, who is aware and has all knowledge about post mortem DNA testing. In this blog post, we will discuss how to establish paternity if the father is deceased.

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How to Get a DNA Test from a Deceased Person?

Post mortem DNA testing is one of the methods to get a DNA test from a deceased person. Post Mortem DNA testing is the process of analyzing the genetic material of a deceased person. It is done for different purposes including paternity, genetic information, or to find the cause of sudden death. However, in the case of paternity, DNA testing is important for legal or personal reasons. If someone has died, the DNA can be retrieved through different methods. Nevertheless, the success of post mortem DNA testing depends on different factors such as the condition of the deceased body. The other factors include time passed since death and methods of data collection and preservation.

For post mortem DNA testing, different samples can be collected as per the condition of the body. The biological samples may include the following:

Hair: If the root is attached to hair, in that case, it is a good source of DNA.
Nail: Nails including finger and toenails can be another good source. However, well preservation of the nails is a condition.
Bones: It is used in case of decomposition of the body. Thus, it is a good option.
Tissues: If the body is well-preserved, in that case, tissue sample such as skin is a good option for testing.

How Long can you get DNA from a Dead Person?

It is possible to get DNA from a dead person for up to 150 years. However, this depends upon the conditions of preservation of the body. But it is a fact that the quality of DNA degrades with the passage of time which is likely to affect the result.

There are different cases of getting DNA from a dead person to establish paternity when the father is deceased. The first case is if the father has recently died, then it is possible to get DNA easily. Because in this case, the time period is usually one or two weeks. It is mostly recommended to get hair samples with roots or nails for a paternity test with the deceased father.

In another case, it is not possible to get the DNA of the person because he has passed away. Then DNA can be obtained through a toothbrush, hairbrush, or cigarette butt. However, this might not be the strong evidence for a lab. The success of analysis also depends upon the lab testing equipment. Irrespective of all cases, it is possible to get DNA up to 100 years.

Can you get DNA from a Dead Person’s Hair?

In paternity test with deceased father, this question is most frequent. The answer is yes. It is possible to get DNA from a dead person’s hair. But for DNA testing, the hair must be attached to the root, otherwise, it may not give the desired result. In paternity DNA testing, hair with follicles is the most common and successful sample.

In some cases, due to legal issues, it might not be possible to get the DNA from the dead body. As an alternate solution, hair samples are collected from the personal items of the deceased including hairbrush, comb, and clothes. However, hair must be connected with the root. This is the condition.

It is possible to get DNA from both hair follicles and shafts. However, the follicle is a reliable option for any kind of DNA testing. Hair DNA testing requires special equipment as any contact with external factors may degrade the quality of DNA.

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What are the Steps for a Paternity Test with a Deceased Father?

For the paternity test, you may need legal authorization to collect samples of DNA from a deceased person. The legal authorization depends upon the area of residence. For that, it is important to hire a lawyer, who has knowledge of the laws of paternity tests.

After getting the authorization, the next step is to collect the DNA sample, which may include hair, nails, and skin. You may also check the medical facility if it has preserved any DNA samples of the deceased.

You may look for indirect methods for collecting DNA such as the DNA of the parents and siblings of the deceased. This also works as strong evidence.

Conclusion

It is possible to get DNA from a dead person and do a paternity test. Choice DNA deals with all kinds of DNA testing. You may visit Choice DNA to book an appointment for a paternity test with the deceased father.

For the testing, a DNA sample is required that is possible to collect through different ways. However, the success of the analysis depends on the quality of the sample and the preservation method of a dead body.