Paternity Testing in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading gave its name to the famous Reading Railroad, immortalized as one of the four railroads on the classic Monopoly board, and the city later became known for its extensive outlet shopping along the surrounding Berks County highways. Paternity testing questions here come from a genuinely wide range of Reading families.
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 Berks 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 Pennsylvaniacourts & agencies
In Pennsylvania, 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
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The legal, chain-of-custody result can be submitted directly as evidence to the relevant Berks County office or court.
The child and the alleged father are the minimum required; the mother's sample can strengthen the result but usually isn't mandatory.