Child custody is a topic that often comes up in divorce but is not exclusive to that field of legal support. In situations where same-sex couples require a donor to facilitate artificial insemination, there are many caveats regarding biological parents and intentional family planning.
Legal Reader reports how a contract between three parties created issues when the sperm donor insisted on full custody instead of co-parenting.
Access and custody
According to the report, two mothers and a sperm donor agreed to help start a family together. While the news does not go into detail about the contract, there is serious confusion regarding intent, access and custody. The same-sex couple initially promised access to the child to the sperm donor, as the report claims, but that fell through after the father failed to pay medical bills.
Without having met his son, the biological father has filed a lawsuit against the couple for full custody.
Confusion and clarity
Regardless of whether a custody battle revolves around a divorce or confusion around another aspect of family planning, this case highlights the need for comprehensive agreements that hold up to scrutiny. Maryland courts deal with custody battles involving parents, biological or not, and factors that include promising to be an active role in a child’s life may not matter when a couple or group meets together, discusses their options and establishes an agreement that leaves no room for misinterpretation.
For anyone facing a confusing custody battle, it is important to investigate the unique factors of a case and lean on resources to help navigate any confusion in order to come to the fairest result.