Generally the requirement to pay child support is not based on whether you married the mother but on your genetic link to the child. Improper donation of genetic material can cause you a lifetime burden and a huge never ending headache because you may be responsible for the child that it becomes apart of. You can be ordered to come into court to undergo genetic testing to determine paternity even if its not on paper that you were the donor. How can you avoid the pitfalls?
Never donate your genetic material without ensuring that you are given proper waivers of responsibility towards the child that may result from that donation. Where a sperm donor gave his sperm to a Lesbian couple in a paper cup at a McDonalds, the Court ruled that the donor was required to pay child support. In that case, when the lesbian couple broke up the mother retaining custody sued for child support against the sperm donor and won.
Never enter a surrogacy contract in New York State. Surrogacy contracts are illegal and unenforceable in the State of New York. Even if you do not care about having to take care of the child for the rest of your life, you don’t want to have to fight a custody battle with the genetic mother who decides that they do want to be in the child’s life after all.
Never agree to create an embryo — otherwise known as a fertilized egg —- with your partner but fail to enter an agreement which outlines what may happen to the embryo in the event that you break up. If you sign a waiver which relinquishes your right to the fertilized egg, your partner may implant that material in themselves years later and then come after you for child support.
If you are considering entering an arrangement in which you exchange your genetic material with another person, other than the natural way, please contact Diana Mohyi Attorney at Law so that she can provide reliable counsel to you.