Reform proof of paternity process for child maintenance payments

In cases where paternity is questioned, I think that parents asking for child maintenance should be required to pay for DNA tests to prove relation to the paying parent before child maintenance services can take money from the other parent.

This petition closed on 29 Sep 2023 with 26 signatures


Reticulating Splines

You may be interested in these active petitions

1. Review accountability for incorrect decisions regarding the removal of a child - 2,338 signatures
2. Petition for Parent/Child Parking Badges for children up to age 13 - 5,163 signatures
3. Require faster eviction process, and improve protections for landlords in PRS - 12,860 signatures
4. Review and reform legal status of pets, and rules on animal control equipment - 10,462 signatures
5. Review and update Provisions 2-10 of The Learner Travel Measure (Wales) 2008. - 2,185 signatures

Currently, it is the duty of the person who denies relation to the child to pay for the DNA test. The Child Maintenance Service will refund this if it parentage is not proven, but I think it should be responsibility of the parent asking for maintenance monies to pay for the test in the first place. In cases where the CMS don't assume parentage, the responsibility falls on the person being asked to pay to prove they are not the child's parent. If they cannot pay for the DNA test to prove this, they have to pay maintenance fees. I think it should be the responsibility of the parent asking for financial support to fund a DNA test to prove relation with the other parents where this is disputed.


Petition Signatures over time

Constituency Data

Reticulating Splines