Can you force a blood test to establish paternity?

May 15, 2024 By

Can you force a blood test to establish paternity?

Sometimes a father needs to prove or disprove paternity in a court case regarding contact with or maintenance of with a child. Although the court cannot force someone to provide a blood sample, a request can be made under Section 70 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. If a parent refuse to provide a sample of their blood or blood of their child, the court can draw an inference from this refusal and conclude that paternity is either established or denied, depending on the circumstances.

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