Paternity Testing for Child Support
Published February 3, 2026 · Medically reviewed by the partner laboratory's medical director, AABB-accredited relationship-testing laboratory
State child support enforcement agencies use AABB-accredited chain-of-custody DNA testing to establish paternity whenever it's disputed by either parent. Testing is usually ordered by the agency directly, but you can also order the $249 Legal Paternity Test on your own and submit the certified result.
Agency-ordered testing
When you open a child support case, if paternity is contested, the agency schedules DNA testing for both parents and the child. Testing is typically free through the agency but can take weeks to schedule.
Ready to move forward? Order our $99 at-home test — AABB-accredited, results in 1–2 business days.
Ordering your own legal test
Some parents prefer to move faster by ordering a $249 Legal Paternity Test independently. As long as it's AABB-accredited and collected with chain of custody, the state accepts the result.
What happens after
Once paternity is established, the state calculates and orders child support based on income and custody arrangement. Establishing paternity also unlocks health insurance access and inheritance rights for the child.