Post-mortem DNA testing in Tucson at Quick Test establishes a biological relationship — most often paternity — after a person has died, by comparing a sample from the deceased with a living relative's cheek swab for legal and personal certainty.
Clear Answers in a Difficult Time
The loss of a family member is painful enough without unresolved questions about a biological relationship. When a death is sudden or a father has never been formally named, the family may need to prove parentage to protect the child's legal rights.
Quick Test coordinates directly with the funeral home to obtain a DNA sample from your loved one, handled with care.
The living relative being compared then provides a simple cheek swab at our Tucson lab. From there, an AABB-accredited laboratory handles the analysis and sends your family a legal report you can rely on.
When Families Need Post-Mortem DNA Testing
When someone passes, an unanswered question about parentage can have significant legal and emotional consequences.
Families across Tucson come to us in three common situations.
Estates and inheritance: When an estate is contested, or a father was never listed on a birth certificate, Arizona probate courts require accredited, legal DNA results to confirm a rightful heir.
Survivor and government benefits: Establishing a biological link is often the final requirement before Social Security survivor benefits, veterans' benefits, or a life insurance policy can be released to a child.
Certainty and closure: Sometimes the need has nothing to do with courts or money — only reassurance.
When surviving children carry doubt about their lineage, a definitive result brings lasting clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a court order to test a deceased relative? No. The test is authorized by the deceased's legal next of kin—most often a surviving child—and their consent is all that's needed to collect the sample and begin. You don't need a court order or an attorney to get tested. If the results are later used in a probate filing or a benefits claim, that court or agency may have its own paperwork, but that's a separate step and never a requirement to have the testing done.
How quickly does the sample need to be collected? As soon as possible. DNA begins to break down after death, and collection should happen before final arrangements such as embalming or cremation. Reach out early and we coordinate with the funeral home right away.
Phone: (520) 386-7677
Address: 1310 W St Marys Rd, 2nd Floor, Tucson AZ 85745
Hours: Mon–Fri 7 AM–4 PM | Sat by appointment only
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Tucson, AZ: Monday-Friday: 7 am-2 pm
Closed 12 pm-12:30 pm for lunch daily
Saturday- By appointment only
Walk-ins only