Opinion ID: 1257531
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Case Law Concerning Artificial Insemination

Text: Only two jurisdictions have determined the parental rights of known donors and unmarried recipients concerning children conceived by artificial insemination. In C.M. v. C.C., 152 N.J.Super. 160, 377 A.2d 821 (1977), the New Jersey Superior Court determined that a known donor of semen who gave semen to an unmarried woman who artificially inseminated herself without the aid of a licensed physician was entitled to visitation rights of the resulting child. New Jersey had no applicable artificial insemination statute. The court found significant the facts that the woman and the donor had a long-standing dating relationship prior to her artificial insemination, that the child had no one else who was in a position to assume the responsibilities of fatherhood when the child was conceived because the woman was unmarried, and that the donor fully intended to assume the responsibilities of parenthood at the time of the insemination. Id. at 165-167, 377 A.2d at 824. The court stated that it is in a child's best interest to have two parents whenever possible. Id. at 167-168, 377 A.2d at 825. The court distinguished situations in which anonymous donors by virtue of their anonymous donation refuse to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood from situations in which the known donor not only consents but actively participates in the procedure leading to conception. Id. [6] In Jhordan C. v. Mary K., 179 Cal.App.3d 386, 224 Cal.Rptr. 530 (1986), the California Court of Appeal determined that the paternal rights of a known donor of semen to an unmarried woman who artificially inseminated herself without the help of a licensed physician were not extinguished by a statute identical to section 19-4-106. The facts in Jhordan C. were very similar to the facts in this case. Mary, an unmarried woman, decided to conceive a child through artificial insemination and raise the child with her friend Victoria. They chose Jhordan to supply the semen after a personal interview. Jhordan alleged that Mary had agreed that he would have ongoing contact with any child so conceived and would care for the child as often as two or three times a week. Mary denied that she and Jhordan had contemplated that Jhordan would have any future involvement with the child. Mary artificially inseminated herself without the involvement of a licensed physician and became pregnant. Jhordan maintained contact with Mary after she became pregnant. He furnished a room in his house and started a trust fund for the child. His name was listed on the birth certificate as the father, and he visited the child several times after he was born. Jhordan sought a determination of paternity after Mary asked him to relinquish his parental rights to the child. The trial court declared Jhordan to be the legal father of the child and granted him substantial visitation rights. Mary received sole custody of the child. Mary appealed, arguing that the artificial insemination statute extinguished whatever rights Jhordan may have had as the father of the child. The California Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the trial court. The court interpreted the California artificial insemination statute as extending to unmarried women the protection afforded to married women under the UPA to use donated semen for use in artificial insemination without fear of paternity suits. Id. at 392, 224 Cal.Rptr. at 534. The court also noted that the statute likewise provides men with a statutory vehicle for donating semen to married and unmarried women alike without fear of liability for child support. Id. It concluded that the statute did not extinguish Jhordan's parental rights, however, because Mary had failed to involve a licensed physician in the artificial insemination process. Id. at 394, 224 Cal.Rptr. at 535. The court held that because Mary failed to obtain Jhordan's semen through a licensed physician and because the parties by all other conduct preserved Jhordan's status as a member of [the child's] family, Jhordan was properly declared to be the child's legal father. Id. at 398, 224 Cal.Rptr. at 537-38. [7]