Embryo Custody Disputes in Florida Family Law
The advent of new scientific procedures that allow for such innovations as cryopreservation have introduced some complications into family law disputes; in particular, the issue of couples freezing embryos and entering into disputes over who has “custody” in the event of separation or divorce are becoming more and more common. While the question of whether frozen embryos should be considered marital property has sparked outrage in a number of states, in Florida, a law already exists addressing the issue. However, like many statutes, it is still written in such a way as to lend itself to plenty of litigation. As a result, this area of the law is still very much developing in the courts, leaving a number of questions unanswered, and warranting the need to address the issue in family law discussions if a couple has engaged in cryopreservation of embryos. What Florida Law Dictates Florida’s law specifically dictates that the treating physician and the couple must enter into a written agreement that provides for the disposition of the couple’s eggs, pre embryos, and sperm in the event of death, divorce, or any other unforeseen circumstance, and if they fail to enter into an agreement, any remaining eggs and sperm belong to the party that provided them, while decision making authority regarding the disposition of pre embryos “resides jointly with the commissioning couple.” In the event of death of one member of the couple, absent a written agreement, the eggs, pre embryos, or sperm remain under the control of the surviving member of the couple. The law even addresses the issue of whether a child conceived by an individual’s eggs, pre embryos, or sperm after their death is eligible for a claim against their estate by stating that they are not unless they have been explicitly provided for in the decedent’s will. What It Fails to Address, And What Could Be Coming What it does not do is address what happens when a couple fails to reach an agreement about disposition, as well as to what extent the agreement between the parties is binding/enforceable. Many fertility clinics have couples sign agreements indicating that embryos are the joint property of the couple such that both would need to consent to any future use of them and, in most cases, if the couple were to split up and one wanted to keep the embryos, the court would hold that the agreement controls. However, the issue of whether pre embryos should have legal status (i.e. where a pre embryo is treated as a life with personhood rights) is still unresolved, and could affect this issue in the future. Some states, such as Arizona, have chosen to go down this “potential for life” route by enacting new laws directing judges to grant any viable embryos to the individual who will allow them to be born, regardless of what any contract dictates. What You Should Discuss with Your Attorney As a result, a couple that is thinking about undergoing IVF should also contemplate working with an attorney beforehand in order to properly plan out what, specifically, they envision happening to any extra, unused embryos. Some reproductive doctors have, for example, advised women undergoing fertility preservation to take sole custody of their embryos from the get-go. Contact Our Florida Attorneys with Any Questions If you have any questions about family law issues here in Florida, contact our committed Tampa family attorneys at HD Law Partners today to find out how we can help. Resource: forbes.com/sites/naomicahn/2020/02/04/who-gets-the-frozen-embryos/#41493fa6cfd7 law.com/thelegalintelligencer/2020/07/10/embryo-disputes-becoming-more-common-in-family-law-practice/ Coronavirus Concerns & Custody Battles in South Florida Posted in Family Law | No Comments » Connect with us Archives May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 January 2025 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 November 13 Categories Alimony Appellate Arbitration Auto Accidents Auto Insurance Business Corporate Business Insurance Law Child Custody Child Support Criminal Law Divorce Family Law FEMA Insurance Payments Florida’s Mandatory 2‑Hour Legal Professionalism CLE: Foreclosure Defense Fort Myers Hurricane Insurance Attorney General Guardianship HD Law Partners Service HOA/Property Management Homeowners Association Homeowners Insurance Hurricane Claims Hurricane Insurance Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Claims Insurance Defense Insurance Litigation Landlord Tenant Law Enforcement Liability Loan Modifications Mold Water Damage Parental Rights Paternity Personal Injury Premises Liability Law Prenuptial Agreements Private Security Property Distribution Property Owner Law Sarasota Insurance Litigation Attorney Slip Fall Tampa Business and Corporate Attorneys tampa family attorney Tampa Insurance Attorneys Timeshare Timesharing Uncategorized HD Law Partners is proud to be your trusted full-service law firm Quick Links Property & Casualty Business & Corporate Litigation Family Law Contact Us Careers Get In Touch 2002 North Lois Avenue Suite 510 Tampa, FL 33607 813-253-5333 Contact Us