DNA Test - Jamestown, NY

Jamestown, NY - DNA Testing

Local DNA Stories

In 2022, Henry Wesley shared his story about how DNA testing reunited him with his long-lost family in Jamestown, allowing them to make up for lost time. Born in South Carolina in 1945, Henry quickly moved to New York after his parents split up. When Henry was two years old, his mother learned he had cerebral palsy and decided she couldn't afford to take care of him, so she gave him up to the state. Henry spent 15 years living in state institutions and eventually came to Chautauqua County to live in a new community residence. In 1994, Henry married his wife, Jean, who was on her own ancestry search journey. Jean's search inspired Henry to learn more about where he came from, so he took a DNA test and quickly had DNA matches. He first contacted Deborrah Wesley, his mother's cousin. He learned that he was his mother's only child and that she died in 2014. Henry also learned about his father's side and discovered he had a half-sister. His sister sent pictures of his father, who also died in 2014. She also told Henry that he has about 20 other siblings. In the spring, four family members came to Jamestown to meet Henry, and Henry learned much more about his family history. "I am overjoyed to have been able to find my family, and it brings me great joy that they took the time to travel to visit me," Henry said. "We shared stories about our lives, many pictures, laughs, and even some tears. I am grateful that this was able to come together the way that it did."

Proving Paternity for Child Custody Purposes in Jamestown, NY

Unmarried Jamestown parents must establish paternity for the child to have a legal father. The easiest way to establish paternity in Jamestown is by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity, a voluntary form that both parents must sign. Otherwise, the parents will establish paternity in court. Either parent can file a paternity petition. If the parents disagree about paternity, the court will likely order a DNA test to prove paternity. If the DNA test rules out a man as the child's father, the case is dismissed. However, if the DNA test determines that the man is likely the child's biological father, the parents can either agree on paternity or continue with a court hearing. In court, the judge will consider DNA test results.

Experts Say...

Humble Law Offices, serving Jamestown, explains the process of establishing paternity. "If the child's parents are or were married, no further major requirements will need to be met in order to file. If, however, the child's parents were never married, the parents must include an Acknowledgment of Paternity in order to demonstrate the relationship to the child," the law firm explained. "Should either of the child's parents refuse to sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, they will be required to file a case in Family Court in order to receive an Order of Filiation." The law office continued, "Once paternity is established and all the relevant paperwork is filed in a New York court, the judge will be tasked with determining exactly how much money the non-custodial parent will be mandated to provide."

Last updated 7/19/2023