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Maryland judge awards custody of embryos to woman

On Behalf of | Jan 14, 2013 | Child Custody |

The first ruling of its kind in the state, a judge has granted custody of nine frozen embryos to a Maryland woman. The woman’s ex-husband argued against the decision, contending that it violates his rights to choose whether to have more children. His attorney asserted that the ruling obligates the man to father additional children with his ex-wife. Despite giving her control of the embryos, the judge found the woman to be an unfit parent and awarded sole child custody of the couple’s 3-year-old daughter to the man.

The couple divorced in Maryland in 2012, but continued to fight over custody of their child and control of the nine frozen embryos. The couple reportedly signed a commercial contract at a fertility clinic in 2008, before the embryos were frozen, that stated that the woman would control the embryos in the event of a divorce or separation.

The man’s attorney argued that her client’s signature on the contract was never notarized, thus invalidating it. However, the Maryland Circuit Court judge disagreed. He declared the contract legally binding and awarded sole custody of the nine embryos to the woman-an unprecedented decision in the state.

The woman’s attorney said that her client is entitled to the embryos as they represent her only opportunity to have additional children, as doctors removed her fallopian tubes in order to assist with the in vitro fertilization and conception of the couple’s daughter. However, the man’s lawyer argues that he should be given an equal say in the decision of whether to have additional children “with his ex-wife who has lost custody of the one child they do have because of neglect.” The woman lost control of the girl after reportedly leaving her alone for several hours, though her attorney voiced her opposition to that decision.

Source: Greenbelt Patch, “Maryland Woman Wins Custody of Frozen Embryos,” Bailey Henneberg, Jan. 7, 2012

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