[Paternity tests--current methods and legal background].

Paternity expertises are established on the basis of so-called STR (short-tandem repeat) polymorphisms. As a rule, they are requested by a judge for use as evidence in the clarification of the question of fathershaft in civil court cases. In addition to this, however, they are being requested more and more frequently by private persons, in the majority of cases with the aim of challenging presumptive fathershaft. In this latter case, however, it must be noted that when a minor is involved, the consent of the person who has the care and custody of the child must be available.