Paternity test in Israel – all your questions answered
Paternity test – officially known as a DNA test for “tissue typing”
Did the Israel Ministry of Interior require you to present a ruling from the Family Court that determines your child’s paternity? This article will explain some of the things you should know about a paternity test in Israel – when, how, and why will you need to undergo one.
A child to an Israeli citizen is also an Israeli citizen from the moment they are born (provided that…):
A child born to an Israeli citizen, in Israel or abroad, is also an Israeli citizen. However, if only the father is an Israeli citizen, a paternity test may be required in some circumstances. The mother’s identity is generally not in doubt – but a “triple check” which includes a DNA test for the child and both parents makes the paternity conclusion more certain.
The State of Israel’s recognition of a child to an Israeli father and a non-Israeli mother as a citizen depends upon either a paternity test, or recognition of the couple’s relationship as “genuine”.
What is required for state recognition of a relationship?
Relationships which are likely to be “recognized” by the state of Israel include an officially conducted marriage or a common-law relationship that started at least 10 months / 300 days prior to the child’s birth.
If the State of Israel recognizes the relationship as valid, the parents can contact the nearest Israeli consulate (if the parents reside abroad) or Population and Immigration authority branch (if in Israel) within 30 days of the date of birth. Upon contacting the authorities, the parents present their documents, including the birth certificate of the child, and receive confirmation that the child is an Israeli citizen. Once the child is recognized as an Israeli, they will be issued an Israeli passport and registered in the Population Registry of the Ministry of the Interior.
It should be noted that contact with the appropriate Israeli authorities within 30 days of the birth is the only certain way to register the child as an Israeli citizen without a paternity test. Foreign documents that state that the Israeli citizen is the father, such as birth certificate, may not always be accepted by the State of Israel.
When does the State of Israel require a paternity test?
If the couple has separated, or if the State of Israel refuses to recognize the couple’s relationship as genuine, the father will likely be required to undergo a paternity test in Israel (DNA tissue typing) or abroad, in order to determine whether the child is his.
Tests conducted without a family court order will be rejected out of hand. That includes any DNA test taken in a laboratory outside Israel. Only a test conducted on the basis of an Israeli Family Court Order will be accepted. The Israeli court works with four hospital laboratories that are authorized to take the samples, make their decision and submit a conclusion to the court.
The actual procedure of a paternity test in Israel
After filing a paternity claim to the court, and provided no objections are submitted and there is agreement from the State Attorney’s Office, a court order will be issued, directing that a tissue typing test be conducted.
A paternity test in Israel may take place in one of four hospital laboratories:
Hadassah Ein Karem – Jerusalem
Tel Hashomer – Sheba
Rabin – the Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva
Rambam Medical Center – Haifa
Blood test or saliva test?
It is possible to give a blood sample, which is usually taken from adults.
It is possible to give a saliva sample, usually from children and if the test takes place abroad.
How much does a paternity test cost? (As of April 2018)
The test costs are different, depending on the laboratory it takes place in. It’s worth noting that price of a blood test can be different from that of a saliva test. Both of the parents and the child must provide a sample (if possible). The vast majority of tests will be conducted with 3 samples in total.
Hadassah Ein Karem – only performs blood tests, at a cost of NIS 1,330 per sample.
Tel Hashomer – performs blood tests at a cost of NIS 1,150 per sample.
And a saliva test (when testing abroad) at a cost of NIS 1,725 per sample.
(The laboratory determines which test is required in each instance).
Rabin, Beilinson Campus Petach Tikva – blood and saliva tests at the same price of NIS 1,140 per sample
Rambam Haifa – blood test and saliva test at the same price of NIS 1,331 per sample.
What’s the next step after a paternity test takes place?
The lab will examine the samples, form an expert opinion on the subject of paternity, and submit said opinion to the relevant family court.
It is important to note that there are laboratories that send results within two weeks while others take two months. Depending on the urgency of the case, it is possible to choose which lab will perform the test.
The test results remain confidential by law
After the laboratory completes its review of the samples, a medical opinion is sent, detailing the results of the examination. Since this information is confidential, the envelope is sent through special couriers directly to the court, and the results can not be given directly to the subject or anyone on his behalf. The court ensures that the test results remain confidential until the judge reveals them to the interested parties.
Contact us:
Our law firm in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv specializes in filing paternity claims;
A plea of paternity by consent (of the mother and of the father)
A claim of paternity without consent (of the mother or of the father), a claim of paternity on the part of the children.
If you have any questions about undergoing a paternity test in Israel, or require legal aid, please contact us.
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