Sperm Donor Fights for Child Custody

Recently, a courthouse in Santa Monica revealed that there is a huge difference between being a father and a sperm donor.  This is the message that came from a paternity lawsuit which was recently resolved in California after a sperm donor sought joint child custody of a toddler he helped conceive.

Supposedly, a woman by the name of Karen B., a lesbian, was looking to become a mother and found a sperm donor by the name of Daniel C. who had posted an ad on Craigslist offering his services.

After Daniel donated his sperm, Karen had a baby through artificial insemination and would occasionally allow Daniel to visit with her child.  Karen made all of the decisions regarding her child's schooling, health and upbringing despite the visits with Daniel.

Two years later, Daniel decided to sue Karen because he wanted additional rights and claimed he was the father.  In court, Daniel proved that he signed the child's birth certificate and that Karen had signed a "voluntary declaration of paternity" which stated Daniel was the biological father.  However, Karen contested that she had signed the document while sedated days after giving birth.

The court ruled in Karen's favor and she retained full custody of the toddler.

Need assistance with child custody or paternity proceedings?  Contact us to discuss your case with a Jacksonville family lawyer.