Answer
Based on official Jordanian legal texts
The Sharia court in Jordan has the authority to call on technical and medical expertise in the cases before it — including directing the parties to undergo DNA testing in lineage cases where it sees value for resolving the dispute.
When does the court turn to testing?
- Upon the father's denial of lineage where other evidence needs tipping.
- Where the evidence conflicts or is too weak to ground a conviction on its own.
- In post-death claims, where needed and under tighter controls (comparison with relatives).
- On a party's request or on the court's own initiative — the decision is ultimately the court's.
Is it automatic?
No. Testing is not a requirement in every lineage case; many are resolved by the marital bed, acknowledgment, or witness evidence without any test. Ordering it is a discretionary call based on what the case needs.
What if a party refuses?
No one is physically forced to give a sample, but an unjustified refusal does not pass without consequence: the court places it in the scales of its assessment and may draw an adverse inference against the refusing party depending on the circumstances — one of the most important calculations for litigants.
The practical procedure
The court orders the test at an accredited technical body; sampling appointments and integrity are controlled; the report returns to the court and is examined like any other evidence.
If you are a party to a case where testing is on the table — whether to request it or resist it — take no position before consulting a specialized lawyer; each choice carries procedural and substantive consequences.
This is a general answer based on available Jordanian legal sources and does not replace advice from a specialized lawyer in an actual dispute.