Bill > SB119

This bill addresses a legal conflict in Delaware regarding birth certificates for children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) when the father dies between embryo creation and placement. Specifically, the bill directs the State Registrar of Vital Statistics to amend the birth certificate of Levi Ryan Murray, who was born in March 2022 after his father, Ryan Murray, died suddenly in February 2020 before a scheduled embryo transfer. The bill resolves a discrepancy between two state laws: one that requires a husband's name to be listed on a birth certificate, and another that restricts listing a deceased father's name on a birth certificate without prior written consent. The legislation mandates that Ryan Murray's name be entered as Levi's father and explicitly prohibits marking the birth certificate as "delayed" or "amended", effectively creating a special provision for this specific case. The bill is a direct response to the unique circumstances of the Murray family and aims to provide a clear legal pathway for recognizing Ryan Murray's parental status, while also signaling the need for broader legislative review of existing laws concerning parentage in assisted reproduction scenarios.

Government Affairs

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142164