Making a declaration of parentage

[Rainydays121]

Family member of mine has been informed a child is his but isn't 100% confirmed. He intends to go to court through the route of a declaration of parentage to get a DNA test done, and if it is his child, begin contact.

Can anyone give me a rough idea of how long this process takes roughly, from start to finish - first meeting with a solicitor to having a DNA test results etc.

TIA

How old is the child? Do the dates add up? If it were me I would want to start contact asap, not necessarily being introduced as Dadiscussed, but just to meet the child and to start getting to know them.

@RedHelenB
Child is 5. He think the dates of conception were round about when he knew her but I could be a month or two out, as it was now best part of 6 years ago he's struggling to place dates exactly. He was also hoping to be able to meet child but mother fast became very difficult in regard to that. So realistically the only way he'll be able to see the child if via court order.

He has a solicitor appointment this coming week but as none of our family have ever experienced this type of thing before, no one has any clue how long the process is likely to take.

@RedHelenB Why would he start contact visits before he knows for sure it is his child. I'm afraid it is not unusual for men to be told the child is theirs and for the DNA to prove otherwise. Hence u less you were in a stab,e relationship and no reason to suspect anything I would always suggest a DNA test before anything progresses.

I would assume being advised the child is his will also being the payment of maintenance ?

If it were me I'd want to see my possible child asap, so that once paternity was established I could be introduced as Daddy sooner.