TOPEKA, Kan. — A sperm donor is being ordered to pay child support to a couple he helped have a child.
William Marotta says he gave up all legal rights to the little girl.
But under Kansas law, because the couple didn’t use a doctor to get pregnant with Marotta’s sperm, the state says he’s responsible for the monthly child support payments, according to FOX 4.
Marotta met the lesbian couple through a Craigslist ad seeking a sperm donor.
The post made by couple Angela Bauer and Jennifer Schreiner — William Marotta and his wife responded.
“They were a couple. They couldn’t have children by themselves. Its something I could help with,” Marotta told FOX 4.
Marotta says he didn’t receive any payment and signed away any parental rights long before the little girl was born.
But in October 2012, Marotta says the Kansas Department for Children and Family Services informed him he was being ordered to pay $200 a month in support.
According to court documents, the state argues that because the insemination was not performed by a licensed doctor, the sperm donor contract was null and void.
Marotta believes the state’s argument is at least partially politically motivated.
“I think if this was a lesbian couple in southern California I don’t think it would even be an issue right now,” he said.
Marotta says the child’s mothers fully support him and have told the state they are the ones who should be held responsible.