Sometimes 23andMe reports an inaccurate DNA relationship between two testers. A half sibling is not always a half sibling. It could be a cousin, for example.

I recently received a message from someone who made an unexpected discovery of a new family member after doing DNA testing.

Severance Magazine is a resource for the growing group of individuals who learn they have been separated by biological relatives.

ROH is very tricky topic but one we need to get comfortable talking about. It can happen to anyone of any age from any background.

When Maggy was 54 years old, she discovered that her father wasn’t who she thought he was.

You order a $99 home DNA test for some holiday pleasure. It’s a bit of fun. Right? Until it turns your life upside down.

Heather and Jessica are sisters who have discovered that they have a half-sister they never knew about.

The recorded re-telling of a painful and emotional experience of uncovering a DNA surprise is helpful for others to read. It supports and validates others who are going through the same thing, and it provides insight for the friends, family, and professionals who will be there alongside a person on their journey following the unexpected discovery.

In this piece which covers the topic of support after unexpected DNA discoveries, I shared my thoughts on the topic and touched briefly on the role grief and support play in these experiences.

Ancestry tests work like paternity testing, in that they are able to detect whether or not you are matching to close biological family correctly or not. The results can be confusing, especially to someone not familiar with the way ancestry test results are displayed.