Establishing the paternity of your child is extremely important, not only for legal reasons, but for personal clarity and peace of mind. The cost of a paternity test shouldn’t prohibit you from gaining that peace of mind for yourself and your child. Luckily, there are budget-friendly options and financial support available for these situations. Keep reading to learn more about affordable paternity testing methods and what you can expect to pay.

At-Home Paternity Tests

At-home DNA test kits are the most affordable choice for those who need to determine paternity solely for personal reasons. These tests usually cost between $50 and $150. You can find them online and even at some drugstores. The kit will include instructions and tools for collecting a cheek swab from the child and the expected father. Then, you’ll mail the samples to a lab for analysis. While at-home tests can provide very accurate results (assuming that you perform the collection accurately), the potential for mistakes and the inability to verify that procedures were followed makes them inadmissible in court. So, if you need to determine paternity for legal reasons, you may not be able to use this option.

Government or State-Assisted Paternity Testing

In some cases, state child support agencies will provide paternity testing at little to no cost to the family. For example, if the mother is seeking child support and paternity hasn’t been legally established yet, the state might be able to cover the cost of testing through the Child Support Enforcement Program. Eligibility varies, so you should contact your local child support office to determine if you qualify for this kind of state-assisted paternity testing.

Payment Plans for Legal Paternity Testing

If you need a legal paternity test and don’t qualify for a government or state-assisted program, you can usually expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a test that can be used in a court case. Of course, not everyone has several hundred dollars to pay upfront for this kind of testing. Luckily, many labs offer payment plans that can allow you to get your legal paternity test quickly, while paying off the cost over time.

If you’re looking for the lowest-cost paternity testing in Jackson, MS, that you can find, take the time to research the different labs and clinics offering these tests in your area. Compare their prices (particularly on legal paternity tests), and contact your local child support office to see if you can receive state assistance in paying for the testing.