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