Section 21.16 Determining Paternity

• Library: Family Law Deskbook and 2014 Supp

E. (§21.16) Determining Paternity

When the paternity of a child is at issue, expert scientific evidence, in the form of tests and reports, will be used by the court in making its decision. In S.A.S. v. B.P., 314 S.W.3d 348 (Mo. App. E.D. 2010), the court notes that § 210.834.5, RSMo 2000, requires expert opinion via a report to establish the chain of custody in genetic testing, as well as the results of the tests themselves. In G__M__H__ v. J__L__H__, 700 S.W.2d 506 (Mo. App. S.D. 1985), the trial court dissolved the parties’ marriage and declared the husband to be the father of the wife’s child. The court of appeals held that the trial court erred in disregarding reports by two recognized experts that the husband was not the child’s father. Id. at 515. The parties had agreed to allow the admission of one...