Few things are more distressing than an inability to have a child. Prospective parents who are having difficulty conceiving are placed under a heavy burden of stress, and often consider alternative means of adding to their family. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is one option, and has helped many couples make their dreams of parenthood come true. For those in Florida who are considering IVF, it is absolutely imperative to work with a child custody attorney to craft an agreement that covers how the resulting embryos will be handled in the event of a breakup.
The IVF process uses the genetic material of both parents (or that of donors) to create embryos. In some cases, those embryos are implanted into the mother’s womb, or that of a surrogate. In other cases, however, the embryos are frozen and stored for use at a later time. For an example, many couples choose to freeze their embryos because the mother is battling a serious illness and needs to pursue aggressive medical treatment.
Very often, things go as planned, and the stored embryos are eventually used to create a successful pregnancy. In others cases, the couple decides to end their union prior to using the embryos. That is when trouble can arise, as both sides often have very strong opinions about what should be done with that genetic material.
The best way to address this issue is to reach an agreement in the early stages of the IVF process, and to secure that agreement in a legal format with a child custody attorney. Having a contract written that directly speaks about what will happen to stored embryos in the event of a break-up is a good idea for both parties. In the best outcomes, those protections will never need to be called into action. If that need should arise, however, those Florida couples who are prepared will have a far easier time managing the situation.
Source: The Huffington Post, “In The Event Of A Divorce, Who Keeps The Embryos Created From IVF?“, Vikki Ziegler, Feb. 8, 2017
