19 August 2024
Louisa Ghevaert was pleased to feature in an article in The Guardian by Donna Ferguson on 18 August 2024 about the legalities associated with DNA testing and applications to rectify an inaccurate or incomplete birth certificate. The article discusses how increasing numbers of people are taking DNA tests to explore their ancestral heritage, uncover unknown aspects of their personal identity or trace parents, siblings and new relatives. Added to this, people are now using DNA tests to apply for citizenship in another country.
Since 2000, it is estimated that more than 40 million people around the world have undergone direct-to-consumer DNA tests through companies such as Ancestry, 23andMe and MyHeritage to learn more about their personal ancestry and trace genetic relatives. The article goes on to say that people are now increasingly using at-home DNA tests to try and obtain citizenship abroad, with a particular focus on Irish citizenship for EU membership.
Louisa explained that there are three main reasons why individuals want to put the names of their biological parents on their birth certificates having traced their biological parents – usually their fathers – through a DNA ancestry test saying “I’m seeing a split between people with inheritance claims, people with personal identity and heritage as strong drivers, and people who are wanting to try to get citizenship. It’s a mixed bag, as one would expect – but I think Brexit has brought into focus, for lots of people, the benefits of having EU citizenship.”
Click here to heard the full article in The Guardian dated 18 August 2024.
Click here to learn more about the legal issues associated with DNA testing.
Click here to find out more about an application for a Declaration of Parentage in the English Family Court.
If you require assistance with the legalities around DNA testing or you need to resolve your legal or biological parentage or rectify your birth certificate contact Louisa Ghevaert by email louisa@louisaghevaertassociates.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7965 8399.
Images: Louisa Ghevaert, CEO & Founder Louisa Ghevaert Associates
