A Minnesota Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of two moms – a lesbian couple from St. Paul – who were fighting a paternity claim filed by their child’s sperm donor.
The ruling is significant, not only for members of the LGBTQA+ community but also for any Minnesota parents who have relied on sperm donors as part of their reproductive journey.
Sperm donors don’t have parental rights
In essence, the dispute arose because the child’s sperm donor – once a family friend – decided that he was unhappy with his role in the child’s life and wanted to be recognized as her legal father, complete with custody and visitation rights. He filed a paternity lawsuit when the child was nearly five years of age.
Even though Minnesota law already barred sperm or egg donors from claiming parentage rights, a district court referee permitted the case to proceed – but the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed that decision and sent the case back down to the lower court for dismissal.
This is a hugely important victory. Had the case proceeded and the would-be father been successful in his quest, many in the field say that would have opened the floodgates to other claims and destabilized numerous families within the state. This ruling reaffirms the notion that the law forbids sperm and egg donors from suddenly reversing their minds and asking for parental rights.
It’s important to note that the couple and their sperm donor did not have an actual contract in place over their agreement. While legal interventions may not prevent every dispute, they can provide additional guarantees that lead to peace of mind for families that need reproductive assistance.