Akron - Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced Tuesday that beginning May 11th, her Child Support Enforcement Agency will begin drive-up DNA testing to establish paternity on child support cases.
DNA testing will be conducted by DRIVE-UP and APPOINTMENT ONLY and will abide by state health guidelines issued for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Paternity establishment has become even more important during this time of uncertainty as a result of the COVID19 pandemic. I understand the critical need to establish paternity. In order to ensure parents, caretakers and children can access this important service, my office is now offering a quick, easy, and most importantly, safe way of conducting DNA testing,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “Establishing paternity is vital to protect important legal rights and privileges, such as inheritance, medical and life insurance benefits, and access to social security and veterans’ benefits.”
For current child support cases, CSEA will notify people of their scheduled date and time for their test.
For people who do not have a current child support case or missed a prior scheduled DNA test, they may call the Summit County Child Support Enforcement Agency at 330.643.2765 for additional information.
DNA testing will take place on the M1 level of the Summit County Parking Deck. A designated area will be blocked off specifically for genetic testing and clients will not need to leave their vehicles. Upon completion of the testing, clients will be provided a parking voucher, with a limit of 30 minutes, which will allow them to leave the parking deck free of charge.
The lab technician will be located on the 1st floor of the Ohio Building and will greet clients at their vehicles.
The address for the Summit County Parking Deck is 200 South High Street. Vehicles must use the public entrance on South High Street and follow the signs to the testing site on level M1.
Once again, this is a Drive-Up, AppointmentOnly option. Those who do not have a scheduled appointment will not be tested.
If a client is unable to take advantage of the Drive-Up, Appointment Only option or they are unable to appear at the scheduled date and time, they should contact CSEA at 330.643.2765 to make other arrangements.
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