Maine Donor Insemination Law
Maine law is silent on the issue of donor insemination, but the courts indicate approval of the insemination of unmarried women where the donor does not establish a legal relationship with the child.
Cases Dealing with Donor Insemination
One 2003 case, Guardianship of I.H., involved a lesbian couple where one of the women became pregnant by artificial insemination with donor semen from a sperm bank in California. The mother and her partner then petitioned to be appointed co-guardians of the child. The Probate Court asked the Supreme Judicial Court for clarification on two questions. The relevant question addressed whether an anonymous donor must be given notice of the guardianship proceeding. The court concluded that no notice was required because successful notice would be highly improbable and an anonymous donor would probably prefer to remain anonymous.
Citation: Guardianship of I.H., 834 A.2d 922 (Me. 2003).
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Last Updated: 3/9/2007