Can social services ask me for a dna!

[Job2903]

Hi, I'm new to this board so sorry if I ramble on.
Basically I'm currently 14 weeks pregnant. Social services have been made aware of my pregnancy and they believe the father is a certain person. My dates (from my scan etc) show he cannot be the father, I knew he wasn't and if there was a tiny chance he was I would be at least 18 weeks. Now social services have asked if I will do a dna test when the baby is born! I am fuming about it!.
Can social services do this as in ask me to do a dna and if so what grounds would it be on.
Any advice/help would be appreciated.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Job,

Welcome to the parents forum. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I understand that children services are involved. You haven’t said why children services are worried about your unborn baby.

They have asked you to do a DNA test to show who the father is.

I know you feel upset and angry about this, but if a DNA test would exclude a potentially dangerous parent from your baby’s life, then interventions by children services are likely to be much less. It has to be better for both you and your partner.

Will your current partner agrees to a DNA test? He would have to provide his own DNA as well as DNA being taken from your baby otherwise a test could not take place.
If you did not agree, children services can seek an order from the court ordering that a DNA test take place because they are trying to assess for risk. What action they take will depend on what are the risks to your baby.
Why don’t you email and ask them to write to you setting out their reasons for wanting a DNA test: why they cannot rely on your dates and circumstantial evidence and what would they do if you did not agree?

Then you will have a better picture of the best way forward.
Best wishes,

Suzie