DNA Testing in California

California State Requirements

California does not require a prescription or doctor's order for a DNA paternity test. Parentage is established either by both parents signing a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage, which is administered by the California Department of Child Support Services under Family Code sections 7570 to 7577 and must be witnessed by an authorized agency such as a birthing hospital, a local child support office or a registrar of births, or by court-ordered genetic testing under Family Code section 7550 and following. For a result to be used in a California court, the test has to be run by an accredited laboratory with a completed chain-of-custody form, which means collection happens at a certified site and every person tested shows government ID. A home kit answers the question privately but is not accepted for child support, custody or a birth certificate change. Call if you are not sure which one applies to you.