Paternity Testing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington sits along the Cape Fear River near the Atlantic coast, and its historic downtown and film studios have earned the city the nickname "Hollywood East" for the movies and television shows filmed there. Paternity testing questions here come from a genuinely wide range of Wilmington families across New Hanover County.
Contact Our TeamWhich test do you actually need?
Most people don't realize there are two different tests until they start looking — and they serve very different purposes.
A private at-home test fits if you're testing purely for personal peace of mind — a cheek swab, mailed in, results kept private. If the outcome needs to matter in a New Hanover County court case or a child support proceeding, the legal version is required instead, with a supervised, documented collection process built to hold up as evidence.
Informational Testing
A private, self-collected cheek swab, mailed in for fast results — right if you just want to know for yourself.
- Collect at home, on your own time
- Results in a few days
- For personal peace of mind only — not usable in court
Legal Testing
A supervised, chain-of-custody collection — required if the result needs to hold up in custody, support, or immigration matters.
- Photo ID verified at collection
- Witnessed, documented process
- Accepted by North Carolinacourts & agencies
In North Carolina, at-home DNA test results are not accepted as legal proof of paternity; courts and child support agencies require a chain-of-custody genetic test performed at an accredited facility, with witnessed collection and identity verification, before parentage can be legally established.
Ready to get started?
Choose the option that fits your situation, or reach our team directly if you're not sure which one you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enter your zip code at checkout to check the closest currently available location.
The legal, chain-of-custody result can be submitted directly as evidence to the relevant New Hanover County office or court.
Typically a matter of days after the sample is collected, for either test type.
No, you can request either test type directly without a referral or prescription.