Questions and answers about kinship

I am unsure whether I am the father of my child. I am divorced and pay child maintenance. I would like to have a DNA test to establish paternity. How should I proceed?

There are two ways to proceed in this case. You can either carry out a paternity test that you order and pay for yourself, or you can contact the district court where the child lives and file a paternity case (form: Stevning i sak om farskap.pdf). The court may assist you in drafting a summons if you have not obtained other legal assistance (a lawyer). Deadlines for filing paternity cases were reintroduced from 01.01.14, but this was later revoked.

How do I go about conducting a paternity test? I am a bit unsure whether I am the father of my child and would prefer not to involve a public authority?

You can conduct a paternity test by contacting Oslo University Hospital HF, Section for Forensic Genetics - kinship and identity, by filling out and submitting the order form on their website.

I have had a private paternity test done which shows that I am not the biological father of my child. How do I proceed to annul paternity?

A legal paternity can only be annulled by the district court where the child lives (or where a previous ruling on paternity has been made). A DNA analysis has no legal effect in itself. You must contact the district court and file a paternity case (form: Stevning i sak om farskap). The court may assist you in drafting a summons if you have not obtained other legal assistance (a lawyer). Deadlines for filing paternity cases were reintroduced from 01.01.14 (see more under "Laws and regulations") but have since been revoked. If the mother, father, and another man who believes he may be the father of the child agree, paternity can be changed administratively by the County Social Security Office.

My ex-partner has just had a child. I believe I am the father of the child, but she says she will not name me as the father. I think it is important for the child to know about me if I am the father, and I wish to have contact with the child. What should I do?

If your ex-partner is not married, you can contact the County Social Security Office in the county where the child lives and state that you wish to declare yourself as a possible father of this child. Alternatively, you can approach the district court where the child lives and file a paternity case. The court will help you draft a summons if you have not obtained other legal assistance (a lawyer). Alternatively, you can fill out the form "Summons for paternity case" available on domstol.no (form: Stevning i sak om farskap​). The same applies if the mother was married to another man when the child was born. Deadlines for filing paternity cases were reintroduced from 01.01.14 but have since been revoked (see more under "Laws and regulations").

I am married and pregnant with our fourth child. My husband was sterilised a year ago and is convinced that I have been unfaithful. Abortion is not an option for me. The situation is very stressful for the whole family; I cannot sleep and cannot find joy in the new child. Can a paternity test be done during pregnancy?

Technically, such a test can be conducted. A sample of amniotic fluid is usually used, which contains cells from the fetus. You must discuss this with your doctor or gynaecologist to talk about the risks of such a procedure and the possibility of carrying it out. The Forensic Institute (now Oslo University Hospital HF) could analyse samples from the mother, fetus, and possible father after week 18 of pregnancy until 2004.

However, since 2004, a ban has been introduced on conducting such tests in Norway, see point 4.8.5 in Ot.prp.nr.64(2002-2003) - "..the ministry cannot see that there is a need for paternity testing at the fetal stage. The ministry finds it inappropriate to allow testing that could be justified by the desire to choose abortion if the child has an unwanted father" and point 4.6 in Inst.O.nr 16(2003-2004).

I am a Norwegian citizen and have a close relative (brother, sister, father, mother) who is seeking asylum in Norway. In this regard, we have been encouraged to document family ties by conducting a DNA analysis. How should we proceed?

You can conduct a kinship investigation by contacting Oslo University Hospital HF, Section for Forensic Genetics - kinship and identity. On the UDI's website, you can read about the guidelines that apply for DNA testing in family reunification cases.

I am a Norwegian citizen and have had a child with a woman abroad. Is it correct that we must conduct a DNA analysis for the child to receive a Norwegian birth number and passport?

You should contact the Norwegian embassy in the country where the child's mother lives and request that the child be assigned a birth number. The embassy will send an application to the Population Register for the assignment of a birth number. If the documentation regarding the child's parentage is insufficient, the Population Register may request a DNA analysis to clarify the kinship relationship. Follow the instructions from the embassy and the Population Register in the further proceedings. You can apply for the assignment of a birth number by following the guide at skatteetaten.no.