Sperm Donor Ordered to Pay Child Support for 18-Year-Old

[eau_xplain 2]

The Nassau County man donated his sperm to a work colleague, and included his name on the child's birth certificate, saying it would give the boy an identity, courts documents revealed.

I think this was the one that got him the most.

[Amby 490]

What's the legal limit age for a child to receive financial support?

I think it's 21

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think this can be used as any kind of reference point as regards sperm donation. What one can conclude is that it is a complicated process fraught with possible difficulties. If one is going to go through this process I would imagine one should be prepared for any and every eventuality even the possibility that one will be held to account as the parent either financially or emotionally, however remote this possibilty could or should be.

It may well make potential donors more rigorous in their decision making process, which isn't really a bad thing.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

The argument is resolved in the first sentence of the story. A donor is not a "dad". If he wanted to be a true donor, he would have remained anonymous and out of the child's life.

[Jengles 0]

Why did the mother wait until now to go after child support, they had an orally agreement and it was nice of him, to at least be visible in the child's life. I think this is horrible, if she was having a hard time, maybe can't afford tuition she should have talked to him. If he is still married think about what those child support back payments are going to do to his family, that's probably half his paycheck gone...what about them.....

The mother's case should have been slapped down in court.

[ivona 0]

An argument could be made that he should have thought what it would do to his family to play dad to this kid.

I don't agree with this judgement but the fact is that his behaviour was that of more than just a sperm donor; he is listed on the certificate, he encouraged the child to call him dad by refering to himself as such and so on.

The mom going after child support is not neccesarily an honorable thing to do but the guy set himself up, or at least opened the door for such a rulling by being a part of the kids life....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why did the mother wait until now to go after child support, they had an orally agreement and it was nice of him, to at least be visible in the child's life. I think this is horrible, if she was having a hard time, maybe can't afford tuition she should have talked to him. If he is still married think about what those child support back payments are going to do to his family, that's probably half his paycheck gone...what about them.....

The mother's case should have been slapped down in court.

It sounds like it was fundamentally a business arrangement - they should have had a written agreement. The whole point of contract law is to ensure that this sort of thing doesn't happen.

[Jengles 0]

Why did the mother wait until now to go after child support, they had an orally agreement and it was nice of him, to at least be visible in the child's life. I think this is horrible, if she was having a hard time, maybe can't afford tuition she should have talked to him. If he is still married think about what those child support back payments are going to do to his family, that's probably half his paycheck gone...what about them.....

The mother's case should have been slapped down in court.

It sounds like it was fundamentally a business arrangement - they should have had a written agreement. The whole point of contract law is to ensure that this sort of thing doesn't happen.

Oh I'm sure there will be a lot of contracts over this going forward as "donors" try to protect themselves...but I think the woman who goes that route...just by choosing that route is not entitled to child support...by going to bank...getting a donor...they are essientially saying I am agreeing to raise this child alone....to sue for back child support is grimey!!