DHSS Press Release

PATERNITY TESTING BECOMES MORE AFFORDABLE

Child Support Enforcement Works to Reduce Financial Barriers to Acknowledging Paternity

Delaware - Realizing that finances can be the deciding factor in determining whether someone gets a genetic test to establish paternity, the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) is now offering DNA/Paternity testing at a reduced rate for eligible clients.

"Getting fathers to acknowledge their children legally by getting their name on the birth certificate is critical to the physical, emotional, and financial well being of any child," says Charles E. Hayward, Director, DCSE. "This discounted testing allows us to help people save over $300 and get more people to acknowledge fatherhood by removing another barrier that prevents people from getting tested. It's that simple."

Parents who are not DCSE clients, are in a Delaware hospital, or who contact DCSE's Automated Assistance Line (AAL) can request Delaware's PRIVATE Paternity Testing Program for a mother, child and father for a total discounted rate of $300 ($100/per person). For parents who are already DCSE clients, there is an even greater discount available. DNA tests normally cost around $600 for the mother, child and father, plus an additional $210 for each additional child.

Fathers not married when the child was born, can acknowledge paternity of the child FREE through the Voluntary Acknowledgement (VAP) Program.

What does acknowledging paternity mean to me and my child, and why is it so important? Paternity establishment means determining the father of a child, legally. If a child's parents were not married to each other when the child was born, the law does not recognize the father unless paternity is legally established. Establishing paternity will give your child the same rights and benefits as children born to married parents. These rights and benefits include:

• Father's name is on the birth certificate
• Legal proof and identity of the child's parents
• Family medical history (important in inherited health issues)
• Medical and life insurance from either parent (if available)
• Financial support from both parents, including:
• child support,
• inheritance,
• military allowance,
• social security,
• and/or veteran benefits.

Establishing paternity gives the father and mother legal rights to:

• Seek a court order for child support
• Seek a court order for custody or visitation
• Have a say in certain legal decisions about the child

Parents who do not want paternity testing can take advantage of the FREE Voluntary Acknowledgment Paternity (VAP) Program. If both parents agree to sign the VAP form, paternity is established once the form is signed, notarized, and submitted to the Office of Vital Statistics.

We encourage all parents who have not yet established paternity to take advantage of these FREE and DISCOUNTED opportunities to acknowledge paternity for their child(ren).

Learn more by calling DCSE's Automated Assistance Line, or visiting DCSE's website:

New Castle: 84A Christiana Road, New Castle, DE 19720 (Tel: 302-577-7171) Dover: Carroll's Plaza, 1114 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901 (Tel: 302-739-8299) Georgetown: 9 Academy Street, Georgetown, DE 19947 (Tel: 302- 856-5386)

Website: www.dhss.delaware.gov/dcse

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.