GEORGETOWN, Del.- You might think it takes going to a clinic or appearing on a daytime talk show to take a paternity test. That is not the case this month in Delaware; the state is offering free paternity tests in conjunction with child support month.
For some children, they know where they came from, they know their mother, but not always do they know their father.
"Determining paternity allows children to get benefits that they normally wouldn't be allowed to have or be able to have because their biological father is unknown," said Ted Mermigos, deputy director of Delaware's Division of Child Support Enforcement. He said some of those benefits include Social Security and veterans benefits.
The state says offering the free service will bring non-custodial parents forward, saving them the cost of a paternity test, which costs about $110.
However, some people say men in that position should not get this test because it is free. Janet Bledsoe said she does not think the state should pay for it.
"I would hope that the person would be willing to get the test, but if they don't I think they should be required to do it. But I still think it's that person's responsibility to pay for the test and not the state."
Others, like Amy Strong of Georgetown, support the state's offering.
"Would they do that on their own? Probably not," she said. "So if they can get it done and it doesn't cost them any money, I would think they would be more motivated to have that done so that the child is taken care of. Doesn't it all come down to child support?"
Paternity tests not only come down to the child and mother. Once a man is legally a father, he can seek custody or visitation for that child. As of June 30, more than 49,000 children this year were born out of wedlock in Delaware.
