Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care
Make DNA paternity testing mandatory prior to registration on birth certificate
Closed
61 signatures
What the petition asks
To stop misattributed paternity, the Government should introduce free, mandatory paternity tests prior to the registration of paternity on birth certificates.
According to research around 1 in 50 fathers in the UK could be raising a child that they think is biologically their own but is not. The long term heartache for the adult & more importantly the child when this is discovered is long term and could have been limited if identified at birth.
DNA is tested in school experiments, ancestry, medical examinations, treatments & surprise findings will be made. Testing at birth would eliminate these problems later.
DNA is tested in school experiments, ancestry, medical examinations, treatments & surprise findings will be made. Testing at birth would eliminate these problems later.
Timeline
| 5 Oct 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 5 Apr 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
61
Status
Closed
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
Opened
5 Oct 2020
Closed
5 Apr 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.