Attorney Jennifer Tharrington has been recognized by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys as one of the 10 Best in North Carolina for Client Satisfaction. Click here to learn more. Read More

At one time, couples who could not have children of their own for whatever reason had two choices: stay childless or adopt. Now, thanks to advances in medical technology, parents who were formerly unable to conceive can take advantage of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), which has paved the way for many new options for growing a family.There are many forms of assisted reproductive technology. The most common Read More

Growing a Family Many prospective parents consider a gestational carriers or gamete donation because they can’t conceive and/or carry a child themselves. Thanks to advances in science and medicine, patients can receive donated eggs, sperm, or embryos, and gestational carriers can carry embryos related to one or both intended parents. However, what may be relatively simple scientifically can be relatively complicated Read More

Science has given prospective parents a plethora of reproductive options that did not exist before. However, some options, although medically or even legally permissible, can be extremely complicated, risky, and/or expensive to pursue. The following is a list of assisted reproduction choices that could have potentially negative legal consequences. It is extremely important to talk with an attorney (prior to taking Read More

For couples experiencing male infertility or for lesbian couples, the decision to utilize a sperm donor is an important one that should be carefully thought out and discussed prior to moving forward. From the legal perspective, here are FAQs about using a sperm donor. Disclaimer: The information contained herein is related solely to North Carolina law. What is the difference between an anonymous, known, and Read More

What happens to frozen embryos after a couple splits up? An Illinois court is determining whether a woman can have custody of and implant embryos over the objection of her ex-boyfriend, who provided the sperm that created the embryos. If the woman is successful, she will be permitted to get pregnant and presumably have a child who will be the genetic child of her ex-boyfriend, who maintains that he has a Read More

Many clients are undecided or concerned about when and how to tell their child that he or she was conceived or born through a gestational carrier or gamete donation. Most research seems to indicate that children cope best with the information under the following circumstances:The parents address their own comfort levels with the circumstances of their child’s conception or birth and prepare themselves and each Read More

Tips for intended parents who are considering a gestational carrier that is a friend or family member. Choosing a gestational carrier is a huge decision that takes many factors into consideration. However, most of the time it ultimately comes down to “what feels right.” Many intended parents choose a stranger for this journey, but others (for emotional, financial, or other reasons) prefer to use a friend or family Read More

Talking Eggs and Sperm Engaging in conversations that are full of words like “sperm” and “vaginal delivery” and “abortion” are very awkward for many people, particularly when they don’t know each other very well. Conversations about money and compensation can also be difficult for many. A gestational carrier arrangement often combines two of the most personal aspects of life (reproductive choices and finances) and Read More

The New York Times recently ran an article regarding the push to legalize gestational carriers in New York. Surprisingly, New York is one of the harshest states in terms of gestational carrier legislation, and actually forbids paid gestational carrier arrangements (women are permitted to “volunteer” as gestational carriers and to carry children for others in unpaid “compassionate” capacities).  Many citizens of New Read More