When it comes to New Year's resolutions, the majority of people make somewhat mundane pledges such as vowing to lose weight, quit smoking, learn a new language or perhaps take a long-awaited trip to an exotic location. As it turns out, however, other people are choosing to make far more extraordinary resolutions, including addressing both child custody and paternity concerns.

A recent survey of over 1,000 people by Identigene -- the manufacturer of a DNA paternity test sold in retail stores/pharmacies -- made the following eye-opening findings:

  • One out of every five people surveyed knew a close friend or family member who had questioned the paternity of a child at some point
  • One out of every ten people surveyed indicated that they were in a scenario in which a paternity test would be necessary/appropriate
  • 51 percent of people who stated that they had paternity concerns in the survey indicated that they were planning to address these concerns in 2012, or wanted to address these concerns but didn't know how

"It's important for children and families to know the truth about paternity as it can impact a child's health, as well as their emotional health and well-being for years to come," said Identigene executive director Steven Smith in a news release.

Another interesting finding of the survey is that it all but verified the reason why Identigene has seen its sales increase so dramatically during the first quarter of every year since 2007.

"The new year definitely seems to trigger many adults with paternity questions to take steps to address their question," said Smith.

Interestingly, family professionals seem to believe that in addition to New Year's resolutions, both the popularity of TV talk shows examining paternity (i.e., "Maury") and the lower marriage rate may help explain why the interest in paternity testing has suddenly seen such a pronounced spike.

Stay tuned for more from our Phoenix divorce blog ...

If you are currently involved in a child custody dispute or would like more information regarding paternity or visitation rights, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced legal professional.

This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Source:

WFIE 14, "Survey: 1 in 10 question paternity" Dec. 27, 2011