Actor Jason Patric is involved in a custody battle that’s bringing a lot of attention to a controversial issue. The star of ‘The Lost Boys” is fighting for the right to parent the son whom he fathered through artificial insemination. Although he had allegedly agreed to be a sperm donor for his now ex-girlfriend, the actor claims that he has maintained a relationship with his son for over two years. According to Patric’s lawyer, sperm donation had actually been a last resort after failed attempts to conceive naturally.
Inspired by Jason Patric’s child custody battle, a democratic senator from California has introduced a bill to give sperm donors the ability to seek custody. As long as donors are able to prove that they’ve cared for the child in their own home, SB 115 would allow them to become a legal parent of the child.
With an increasing number of unmarried couples getting pregnant with fertility treatments, supporters of the bill feel that it’s a necessary update of the law. Those who oppose the bill believe that it may threaten the rights of single women and lesbian couples who are seeking sole parentage. Under current law, an unmarried sperm donor who wishes to co-parent must have established an agreement with the mother prior to conception.
Before a man chooses to father a child through artificial insemination, a lawyer may help him draw up a legal co-parenting agreement with the mother. Although there may be a verbal agreement to co-parent the child prior to conception, it must be in writing to be legal. Preventing possible court battles that could happen later on in the child’s life, a legal co-parenting agreement may ensure that those who intend to parent will have parental rights.
Source: Huffington Post, “Jason Patric Inspires Controversial Legislation Over Sperm Donor Parental Rights“, Kathleen Miles, August 13, 2013
