One of the concerns that you’ve had for some time is that the child who is growing inside of your girlfriend may not be yours. You took a break from dating each other around the time that she became pregnant. There is a good possibility that the child is yours, but you want to be sure.
You would like to ask for a paternity test, but how soon is too soon?
The answer is different for everyone. Normally, is it advised to wait to perform a paternity test until after the child is born. However, you can have a paternity test before that time in certain circumstances. Doing so too soon could be more dangerous for the mother and child, which is why it’s normally not given until after childbirth.
You may ask the mother to have a paternity test performed at the hospital following the birth of your child. If she does not agree, you can ask the court for approval and a court order for a paternity test. You will need to show why you’re asking for the test, which is something to discuss with your attorney before requesting it.
You can technically ask for a paternity test at any time in your child’s life. Keep in mind, however, that if you hold a child out to be yours for a long period of time, the court may not be as happy to order the test. They may question why you’ve waited so long to question paternity. That’s why most people ask for paternity tests earlier in their children’s lives.
