child support- where can i do paternity testing for foreign father?

[Acoldsummer2024]

AIBU to ask it here. Probably yes, but need the traffic.

My dc was born abroad to an american father and I pursued child support using paper forms.

I had a response from the state attorney's office saying they were unable to use their vendors for genetic testing in The UK and would I be able to ask my physician to do the genetic testing for my DC.

I asked the GP, they said no.

Does anyone know how I can do this? I can't afford a private testing place as they're like £300 and obviously I can't just fly back to The USA to do it.

Even if it was £100 to do it privately, I can't risk spending the little savings I do have, as it could amount to nothing.

Any ideas, from anyone who has been through similar?

Thanks in Advance

i pursued child support from The USA, that should have said.

Could you not agree to do it, but only if he pays for it?

If he was willing to pay for things, I wouldn't be pursuing child support. I don't even know where he is. He went awol years ago.

I've just contacted The Maintenance Enforcement Business Centre here in The UK, who deal with foreign courts, and they've replied to say they're currently replying to emails from 17th October 2023. So that's out I guess, for now, at least.

I had a response from the state attorney's office saying they were unable to use their vendors for genetic testing in the UK

What does this mean?

You pay privately or it doesn't get done, sorry. If he won't pay then do you really want him proven to be the dad?

well yeah i want them to force him to pay what he owes each month- hence child support.

They have their own DNA people they use to establish paternity. Whoever they use, can't do it for someone in The UK, and they want me to ask my doctor to do it for me. Doctor said no.

They just want it collected, they do the testing side of it.

What state does he live in? I'm not sure that they operate the same as the UK in the sense of 'making' a father pay maintenance.

If he won't pay maintenance, how are you going to convince him to take a DNA test?

If you pay privately in the UK, will they accept it? And can they give you an indication of what you’d be likely to receive (if anything)?

If it’s going to cost you £300 but you’ll likely receive thousands in back payments that’s a different proposition to if they don’t they can extract any money from him

I don't have £300. I'm not looking for advice, questions about the judicial system over there, comments on the payments etc.......

Just asking to anyone out there who has been through this experience to tell me how I can find someone to take a sample of my daughter's DNA for me and post it to the paternity testing people in Florida, which doesn't cost £300 plus.

Surely then£300 you're being quoted from UK firms includes testing. Have you specifically asked what they'd charge simply for collection?

Thanks, that's helpful.

Or a private GP appt? Or even your own GP but on a private basis.

For paternity don't they usually want someone to take the samples so it's verified?

If you're asking whether there is a free service that will do this for you, I think the answer is no. Even if the GP would do it, it would be a private service, which is chargeable.

I know of 2 companies that do private DNA testing. DNA Legal and Cellmark Diagnostics. There will be others. I suspect you have been quoted for the whole process not just the sample collection. It’s worth contacting these providers and seeing if they will do sample collection only. Though you will need to be able to ensure secure onward delivery.

Thank you that makes sense. I'll ask the GP again about doing just the sampling and me paying for it, and if that fails I'll ask virtual GP through life insurance if I can ever get the app to work. Perhaps the USA company will pay for it, also.

Lastly, if that fails I'll contact DNA clinics and ask if they can lower the price to just take an in-person sample and post it.

Does this help ?

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/paternity-test-laws.html

A friends mum had a fling with a US airman in the 60s. He fucked off back to the states, but she lodged a claim for paternity which was granted by default. Meant my friend became American overnight and she spent a couple of years travelling and working.

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I've just called Cell Mark and they won't do it. I'm trying DNA Legal now.

He's not in England, the system doesn't work the same way there.

No, it looks like the UK companies here won't do it as they're saying they're not accredited by the US courts.

I'll try a private GP.

No shit. How it works over there is a court makes the order and decides who pays for the test. Doesn’t sound like that’s been done so I don’t see why you have to pay in order to pursue, but I’ve now seen your update about not wanting advice, so I’ll leave it there.

I've updated to clarify it's not about paying for the testing, They've asked me to have a sample collected for them to do their testing. Their lingo can be confusing.

Looking back at their original message it seems they have tried to find a company here to do the sampling or testing for them, and can't, and want me to ask my doctor. My doctor has said no.