Costa Rica’s Paternity law, passed in 2003, has resulted in an increase every year of DNA based paternity testing.

Edna Meléndez, head of the DNA lab, said that in 2005 there were 1.600 DNA tests and confirmed that 82 per cent were positive. This means that nearly 20% of the mothers did not know who the father was or lied to the Civil Registry about the identity of the father.

Under the law, the unwed mother declares at birth who the father of the child is. In cases where the father may not recognize the child as his, the civil registry will investigate. They notify the father who has 10 working days to accept or deny paternity. If he does not answer the registry will assume that he is the father and proceed with registering the birth of the child. If the father reports to the registry that he is not the father, then the Registry will give an appoint to the father, mother and child the DNA testing laboratory. If the named father does not appear at the appointment, then the Registry will again assume paternity.
The same paternity law increased the father’s responsibilities for
child support and the ability of the public institutions to enforce support. Every year the total of DNA tests has risen, according to officials due to more awareness of the law.