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Should the CSA pay for the DNA test to be done?
Hi my brother in law has been contacted by the CSA, to say he owes around £3,000 for child some women is saying is his. He has never seen the child before and his name is not on the birth cert.
The child is about 6 now and all of a sudden this women is saying the child is his.
He has spoke with CSA and they have informed him that he must pay for a DNA test to be done to prove the child is not his. He cant afford the £250 for a DNA test and also i dont think he should have to pay for a DNA for a child he has never seen or not his.
Can someone please help me on what rights he has or if CSA should pay for the DNA test to be done.
2 thoughts on “Should the CSA pay for the DNA test to be done?”
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He does not have to pay upfront if arranged through the CSA but the costs will be added to arrears if the child proves to be his.
There is no charge to him if it proves he is not the father.
If the agency have informed him that there are arrears on the case this means the case is already open and an MC has been calculated. This would indicate that your BIL has been contacted by phone or letter about the case – if a MEF (Maintenance Enquiry Form) was sent and he has not returned it denying paternity then paternity will have been presumed. If paternity is presumed then the NRP (Non-resident parent) will need to obtain a declaration of non-parentage via the courts, he will be liable for the costs of this. If he is proven not to be the father of the child then the court will issue the Declaration and he can submit this to the CSA and the case will be closed in accordance with the date he contacted them and disputed paternity. If he is proven to be the father of the child he will be liable to pay ongoing maintenance for the child.
If he does not pursue the declaration of non-parentage he could be held liable to pay on-going maintenance up to the child’s 20th birthday depending on how long the child remains in non-advanced education.