Prenatal Paternity Testing in Vermont

Non‑invasive prenatal paternity testing uses a standard blood draw from the pregnant mother and a cheek swab from the alleged father to compare the baby’s DNA to the father’s DNA markers, using cell‑free fetal DNA in the mother’s blood instead of sampling the pregnancy directly. In Vermont, parentage for a child born outside marriage can be established by a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP), by court adjudication, or through the Office of Child Support (OCS) using genetic testing; under Vermont’s Parentage Proceedings law, a person is identified as a genetic parent if accredited testing shows at least a 99% probability of parentage, as set out in 15C V.S.A. § 604 – Genetic testing results and explained in OCS’s Child Support in Vermont: A Handbook for Parents (PDF).

Most non‑invasive prenatal paternity tests can be performed starting around the 7th to 10th week of pregnancy, counted from the first day of the last menstrual period, once there is enough fetal DNA in maternal blood for accurate analysis. Many Vermont families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care through Vermont Medicaid (Green Mountain Care), which covers prenatal visits, prenatal vitamins, ultrasounds and other screenings, childbirth by vaginal or cesarean delivery, and at least 60 days of postpartum care, as described in the fact sheet Women and Medicaid in Vermont (PDF) and broader state policy summaries such as the Prenatal‑to‑3 State Policy Roadmap – Vermont.

NIPP is considered low‑risk because it relies on a routine blood draw from the pregnant mother and avoids invasive procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, which carry a small risk of miscarriage. This blood‑based approach is consistent with Vermont’s emphasis on safe, comprehensive prenatal care, including Medicaid coverage for prenatal visits, ultrasounds, amniocentesis when medically necessary, and extensive dental benefits—pregnant Medicaid members have no dollar limit on covered dental services during pregnancy and for 12 months after the end of pregnancy, as noted by the Vermont Department of Health’s “Pregnancy and Childhood” page and Medicaid maternity‑care summaries.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Vermont parentage, child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born, provided they meet the requirements of Vermont’s Parentage Proceedings statute and court rules. Under 15C V.S.A. § 604, a person is identified as a genetic parent if compliant genetic testing shows at least a 99% probability of parentage, and courts then adjudicate parentage based on those results together with other evidence under 15C V.S.A. § 609; Social Security’s analysis of Vermont law explains that when DNA results exceed the statutory threshold for presumption, the child can inherit through the alleged father under Vermont intestacy law.

Most private health plans and Vermont Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid covers medically necessary prenatal and delivery care and finances a large share of maternity services in the state. Pregnant Vermonters whose income meets program rules can enroll in Medicaid/Dr. Dynasaur and receive comprehensive maternity benefits—prenatal visits, vitamins, ultrasound and amniocentesis when indicated, hospital or birth‑center delivery, and at least 60 days of postpartum care—summarized in Women and Medicaid in Vermont (PDF) and reflected in national surveys of Medicaid coverage of pregnancy‑related services.

Vermont residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, childbirth education, postpartum care, and newborn coverage through Medicaid/Dr. Dynasaur, local hospitals, community health centers, and public‑health programs, with dental and oral‑health details for pregnant people on the Department of Health’s “Pregnancy and Childhood” page. The Prenatal‑to‑3 State Policy Roadmap – Vermont and related state resources describe additional supports such as WIC nutrition services, home‑visiting programs, and early‑childhood services that help pregnant people and infants during the prenatal and postpartum periods.

For legal questions about custody, visitation, child support, or how DNA testing affects parental rights, parents can start with the Vermont Office of Child Support’s parentage materials, including the Child Support in Vermont: A Handbook for Parents (PDF) and the Parent’s Guide to Parentage brochure (PDF), which explain Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage, court actions, and genetic testing. Additional plain‑language help comes from VTLawHelp.org’s “Parentage” page and Child Welfare’s fact sheet “The Rights of Unmarried Parents – Vermont”, which outline how to establish parentage through acknowledgment, court orders, and genetic parentage under Title 15C.

No, previous pregnancies do not interfere with NIPP results. The test isolates fetal DNA specific to the current pregnancy, ensuring accurate results regardless of prior pregnancies.

Yes, testing is possible if potential fathers are related, but additional analysis may be required to distinguish between their DNA profiles. Informing the lab about this relationship ensures more precise testing.

No, since the multiples will share the same DNA, it will be impossible to determine how many & which is which.

Yes! Both legal and non-legal NIPP tests include free gender determination as part of your results package.