Accurate, Affordable DNA Testing in Wisconsin – Legal & At‑Home Options

You can test at GameDay DNA collection sites or use an at‑home cheek‑swab kit for private peace of mind. For court or child‑support cases, parents commonly work with their county child support agency, and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families explains that these agencies arrange genetic testing and help establish legal fatherhood on its page on establishing legal fatherhood (paternity), while Wisconsin trial‑law guides on establishing paternity in Wisconsin by genetic testing describe how 99%‑or‑greater probability results are used to amend birth records and issue support orders.

Wisconsin law allows paternity to be established either voluntarily—through a Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment (VPA) form—or by administrative or court order using genetic testing. The DCF page on establishing legal fatherhood and Wisconsin State Law Library’s paternity law guide point to Wisconsin Statutes § 767.84 on genetic tests in paternity actions, which provides that when tests show a 99% or higher probability of paternity and the alleged father is not excluded, agencies and courts may treat that as strong evidence when entering support and placement orders.

Most legal paternity tests in Wisconsin use buccal‑swab (cheek‑swab) DNA samples from the child and the alleged father, and sometimes from the mother. Wisconsin family‑law explainers on establishing paternity in Wisconsin by genetic testing and consumer guides on court‑ordered paternity testing in Wisconsin note that a technician gently swabs the inside of each person’s cheek and that this non‑invasive method has largely replaced blood draws while remaining highly accurate.

For at‑home kits, use the sterile swabs in your kit, rub firmly along the inside of each cheek for the full time listed in the instructions, let the swabs air‑dry, and seal them in labeled envelopes before mailing. Wisconsin law‑firm FAQs on Wisconsin paternity testing and consumer guides on do you have to get a paternity test in Wisconsin? explain that private at‑home and in‑office tests use the same cheek‑swab technique, but only documented, chain‑of‑custody tests ordered or accepted by a court or child support agency can be used as legal proof.

GameDay DNA provides results by secure online portal or encrypted email, with printed reports available for legal tests. When testing is arranged through a county child support agency, DCF’s materials on establishing legal fatherhood (paternity) and its brochure Your Guide to Legal Fatherhood explain that the agency coordinates genetic testing for IV‑D child‑support cases and that results are returned to the agency and used with the court or administrative process to establish paternity and enter support and parenting‑time orders.

Yes—Wisconsin statutes allow courts and child support agencies to order and consider genetic testing in paternity proceedings. Wisconsin Statutes § 767.84 on genetic tests in paternity actions and related provisions summarized in the Wisconsin State Law Library’s paternity resource explain that genetic‑test reports showing a high probability of paternity can be admitted as evidence and create a strong presumption that the man tested is the legal father, subject to limited challenges.

Either parent, the child (through a representative), or the state (through the county child support agency) may initiate a paternity proceeding in Wisconsin. The State Law Library’s paternity guide and Wisconsin self‑help and legal‑aid resources such as Wisconsin paternity laws describe how parents can sign a Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment, work with a child support agency to start an administrative genetic‑testing case, or file a court action under chapter 767 if there is disagreement.

In special situations—such as when an alleged genetic parent is deceased or cannot be tested—Wisconsin courts may consider DNA evidence from relatives along with other proof to decide paternity and related rights. The Wisconsin State Law Library’s paternity resource page and practitioner discussions of genetic testing and paternity determinations note that courts can order testing of close relatives and review documents such as acknowledgments, support orders, or probate filings when deciding inheritance, benefits, or support claims involving a deceased or unavailable putative father.