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Inheritance rights for in vitro kids
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:04 am
by mebison
What do you think?
DES MOINES -- A legislative subcommittee approved a measure Thursday giving inheritance rights to Iowa children born up to two years after their father's death.
The measure would mean children conceived through in vitro fertilization would be entitled to benefits such as Social Security survivor payments even if they were gestated after a parent's death.
http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20 ... 50323/1079
Re: Inheritance rights for in vitro kids
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:00 am
by dbackjon
Can a state legislature determine FEDERAL benefits?
Thorny issue - all of the in-vitro issues - who does it belong to? What happens to the excess?
Re: Inheritance rights for in vitro kids
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:20 am
by mebison
I have a real problem with it. I don't begrudge anyone the right to have kids with your deceased husband's sperm, but if you make that (very conscious) decision, you should be prepared to bring them up without government support.
Your points are all good too...very thorny issues.
Re: Inheritance rights for in vitro kids
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:48 am
by OSBF
Opens up a nasty can of worms.
What about collecting child support from a guy that donated to a sperm bank?
After all, any children would be his.
Re: Inheritance rights for in vitro kids
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:46 am
by mcveyrl
OSBF wrote:Opens up a nasty can of worms.
What about collecting child support from a guy that donated to a sperm bank?
After all, any children would be his.
I have no personal knowledge of sperm bank issues, but my guess is you probably sign some kind of waiver that you won't try to collect benefits from the donor (if you find out who it is).
As to the in-vitro question, you all are right. VERY thorny issues. All this does is create uncertainty about a whole slew of rights. Besides the Social Security issue, what about plain ole inheritance rights. Let's say the dad dies with two children living and has a will leaving substantial amounts to his "children." Technically, you could not disburse the estate for at least two years to see if any other children are born. Of course, if he doesn't have any banked sperm, it's not an issue. In fact, this would really only be an issue for a very small percentage of people. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be addressed somehow.