California fans of Sherri Shepherd might find it interesting to learn that the actress and TV personality is appealing a decision by a Pennsylvania court that ordered her to pay child support for her son, who was born with the help of a surrogate mother. According to the ruling, she must pay $4,100 a month to support the 1-year-old and begin paying $4,600 a month after his 13th birthday.
Shepherd, 48, paid nearly $100,000 to a fertility agency in New Jersey in order to have a surrogate baby with her then-husband. However, the former co-host of “The View” attempted to back out of the agreement when her marriage began to fall apart. By that time, the surrogate mother was already several months into her pregnancy.
After her son was born, Shepherd tried to avoid financial responsibility by petitioning the court to have her name removed from his birth certificate, but her request was denied. In 2015, her former husband told the media that he disapproved of her actions and claimed she had “turned her back” on their child.
Even in less complicated cases, child custody disputes can be emotionally difficult for everyone involved. A parent who is facing child custody issues may want to meet with a family law attorney in order to determine how best to proceed. Legal counsel could carefully assess the situation and help negotiate an agreement that is in the best interests of the child. An attorney could also provide essential guidance when petitioning the court for a child custody order modification.
Source: Radar Online, “Sherri Shepherd Takes Surrogacy Custody Battle To Superior Court,” Jan. 14, 2016