As a sperm donor I'm not sure what legal rights I will have in this situation? I'm about to seek formal legal advice.
I am a known sperm donor, a baby is due in later this year, I met the mum-to-be on a co-parenting website.
No formal legal agreement has been signed or agreed to yet.
Prior to conception I made it very clear I did not want to be an anonymous donor and we agreed I would have ongoing contact with the child as they grow up, where I would be known as a family friend and not a parent. We agreed when the child was mature enough to understand (before they turn 18), the child would be told I'm the biological father and I would have greater contact.
Also prior to conception, I asked the question "Do you use illegal/illicit drugs, or have you in the past?", the answer was "I don't use drugs, I had tried when I was younger". Likewise I asked about alcohol use and she told me she was a social drinker.
When I found out she was pregnant, she told me I have no rights to the child and I would be allowed one visit a year only. I have email and SMS correspondence detailing what we originally agreed to.
I have since found out she is a heavy drinker (alcoholic) and she has been drinking whilst pregnant. I also found out she was frequently smoking marijuana when we were trying to conceive. What else I found out is she is on a disability pension, she told me she wasn't working because she lost her job.
The mum-to-be is in a same sex relationship. It is not a defacto relationship as they do not live together and they are both financially independent. They are intending to live together after the child is born.
I'm mentally and emotionally a mess at the moment, I'm concerned like you wouldn't believe about the baby. As the biological father, legally I don't know what I can do to protect the baby from harm, or what I can do?
Any advice would be great.
thanks MG
I am a known sperm donor, a baby is due in later this year, I met the mum-to-be on a co-parenting website.
No formal legal agreement has been signed or agreed to yet.
Prior to conception I made it very clear I did not want to be an anonymous donor and we agreed I would have ongoing contact with the child as they grow up, where I would be known as a family friend and not a parent. We agreed when the child was mature enough to understand (before they turn 18), the child would be told I'm the biological father and I would have greater contact.
Also prior to conception, I asked the question "Do you use illegal/illicit drugs, or have you in the past?", the answer was "I don't use drugs, I had tried when I was younger". Likewise I asked about alcohol use and she told me she was a social drinker.
When I found out she was pregnant, she told me I have no rights to the child and I would be allowed one visit a year only. I have email and SMS correspondence detailing what we originally agreed to.
I have since found out she is a heavy drinker (alcoholic) and she has been drinking whilst pregnant. I also found out she was frequently smoking marijuana when we were trying to conceive. What else I found out is she is on a disability pension, she told me she wasn't working because she lost her job.
The mum-to-be is in a same sex relationship. It is not a defacto relationship as they do not live together and they are both financially independent. They are intending to live together after the child is born.
I'm mentally and emotionally a mess at the moment, I'm concerned like you wouldn't believe about the baby. As the biological father, legally I don't know what I can do to protect the baby from harm, or what I can do?
Any advice would be great.
thanks MG