| DNA testing is becoming of increasing | | | | DNA Testing - DNA Database and Criminal |
| importance in both civil and criminal | | | | Identification |
| legal circles. In the field of private | | | | Even in justice and policing matters, |
| law, it is often important to be able to | | | | maintaining DNA samples for |
| determine family relationships for | | | | identification purposes is becoming more |
| financial reasons, or to enforce a range | | | | prevalent across the world, with |
| of other obligations. Because of the | | | | widespread DNA database construction |
| effectiveness of DNA testing in | | | | well under way. The idea behind this |
| determining where such relationships | | | | form of using DNA evidence is to provide |
| might arise, they are becoming far more | | | | a better resource against which |
| widely used in determining family | | | | potential re-offenders can be |
| relationships as proof in both civil and | | | | identified. Ethics aside, this will no |
| criminal trials. | | | | doubt prove an important tool in the |
| DNA Testing - Uses in Inheritance Issues | | | | fight against crime, and will certainly |
| In inheritance law, even where the | | | | provide the authorities with more |
| deceased has left a will, it's often | | | | wide-ranging powers in pursuit of |
| important to know what kind of family | | | | suspected criminals. |
| relationships exists. In most | | | | Likewise in criminal law circumstances, |
| jurisdictions, children of the deceased | | | | where a suspect has allegedly killed a |
| are automatically entitled to a share of | | | | victim. Analysis of traces of blood or |
| the moveable estate, thus this can often | | | | head hairs can be used to determine |
| lead to disputes as to who is and is not | | | | without reasonable doubt that the |
| a child of the testator. Using DNA | | | | accused was present at the scene or was |
| samples from the testator and the | | | | involved in some regard with the |
| alleged child or children, it's possible | | | | victim's death. Alternatively, DNA found |
| to confirm where such a relationship | | | | at the scene of a robbery could be |
| does in fact exist, allowing the courts | | | | enough to point towards a positive |
| a decree of clarification on the true | | | | identification of the accused, along |
| circumstances of a particular case. From | | | | with supporting witness testimony to |
| here, the legacies payable to each child | | | | corroborate. |
| can be finalised, thanks to the closure | | | | DNA Testing - Immigration purposes |
| provided by the DNA test results. | | | | Immigration law relies heavily on DNA |
| DNA Testing - Determining Alimony | | | | testing and DNA test results to prove or |
| Liability | | | | establish where family relationships may |
| In family law, there is often an | | | | exist, which can then be used to |
| obligation to aliment children until | | | | determine the processing of immigration |
| they reach adulthood. Again, this can | | | | applications. Without DNA testing |
| give rise to allegations of parentage or | | | | facilities, the process of establishing |
| otherwise, which can require positive | | | | true family relationships in immigration |
| DNA testing to determine the true facts. | | | | would be much more detailed, more prone |
| Depending on the outcome, whether or | | | | to possible errors and therefore less |
| not the subject is the father of the | | | | efficient. However, through a DNA |
| child in question will determine whether | | | | paternity or relationship test, it is |
| or not he may be pursued for alimentary | | | | now possible to identify relatives and |
| payments, hence DNA testing plays an | | | | process the visa application within |
| all-too important role in this form of | | | | shorter time frames. |
| legal decision making. | | | | |