Recently, I watched a video on Youtube featuring Gospel music sensation Kirk Franklin, as he revealed in a short documentary a story about his childhood and not being raised by his biological parents, and not knowing who his birth father was the majority of his life. His story was hearbreaking because he shared that the man he thought was his birth father, he had resented, and shared his resentment towards him on his alleged father's death bed. But years later gets the news that his birth father could still be alive. After doing a DNA Paternity test, the results were 99.99% that this man and Kirk Franklin shared DNA. He was the father! 

Actress Keri Washington also shared her story about finally learning after an ancestry DNA test experiment, that her known father was not her biological father.

So many family secrets. As ancestry DNA models become more accessible, like Ancestry.com and 23 and Me to name just a couple, the truth comes to the light.

When it comes to uncovering family histories and legacies, paternity DNA testing has become a powerful tool, even in cases involving deceased individuals. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of postmortem paternity DNA testing and how it can impact the legacy of a family. 

The purpose of this blog is just FYI. Most people don't know Postmortem DNA Testing is an option. And as a legacy building advocate, providing this insight is imperative.

Part I 

The Power of Postmortem Paternity DNA Testing

1. Resolving Family Mysteries: Paternity DNA testing after a person's passing can help solve long-standing family mysteries. It provides clarity on relationships and lineage, answering questions that may have lingered for generations.
2. Confirming Biological Connections: For families with doubts or questions about parentage, postmortem paternity testing can confirm biological connections definitively. This knowledge can be crucial for emotional closure and understanding one's heritage.
3. Legal Implications: In some cases, postmortem paternity testing can have legal implications, particularly concerning inheritance, wills, and estates. It can help establish rightful heirs and beneficiaries according to the law.
4. Preserving Family History: Genealogy enthusiasts and historians often turn to DNA testing to preserve and document their family history. Postmortem testing can add missing pieces to the puzzle, creating a more comprehensive and accurate family tree.
5. Connecting with Relatives: DNA testing, even postmortem, can lead to unexpected discoveries of living relatives. These newfound connections can be incredibly meaningful, bringing families closer together despite the passage of time.

Postmortem paternity DNA testing is a valuable resource for families seeking to unlock the mysteries of their heritage and establish biological connections, even after the passing of loved ones. It can have far-reaching effects, from providing emotional closure to preserving cultural legacies and strengthening family bonds. In the quest to understand and honor our family histories, DNA testing plays a pivotal role in shaping our legacies for generations to come.