Cal. Codes » Family Code / DIVISION 12. PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP / PART 3. UNIFORM PARENTAGE ACT / CHAPTER 2. Establishing Parent and Child Relationship
California Codes

Cal. Family Code § 7613 (2026)

Establishing Parent and Child Relationship

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(a)(1)If a woman conceives through assisted reproduction with semen or ova or both donated by a donor who is not the woman’s spouse, with the consent of another intended parent, that intended parent is treated in law as if that intended parent is the natural parent of a child thereby conceived. The other intended parent’s consent shall be in writing and signed by the other intended parent and the woman conceiving through assisted reproduction.

(2)Failure to consent in writing, as required by paragraph (1), does not preclude the court from finding that the intended parent consented if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that, prior to the conception of the child, the woman and the intended parent had an oral agreement that the woman and the intended parent would both be parents of the child.

(b)(1)The donor of semen provided to a licensed physician and surgeon or to a licensed sperm bank for use in assisted reproduction by a woman other than the donor’s spouse is treated in law as if the donor is not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived, unless the donor and the woman signed a written agreement before the conception of the child, that the donor would be a parent.

(2)If the semen is not provided to a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed sperm bank as specified in paragraph (1), the donor of semen for use in assisted reproduction by a woman other than the donor’s spouse is treated in law as if the donor is not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived if either of the following are met:

(A)The donor and the woman signed a written agreement before conception that the donor would not be a parent.

(B)A court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child was conceived through assisted reproduction and that, prior to the conception of the child, the woman and the donor had an oral agreement that the donor would not be a parent.

(c)A person providing ova for use in assisted reproduction by a person other than the provider’s spouse or nonmarital partner is treated in law as if the provider is not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived unless the court finds satisfactory evidence that the provider of the ova, and each recipient, intended for that provider to have parental rights.

(d)(1)A provider of an embryo for use in assisted reproduction to an intended parent who is not the provider’s spouse or nonmarital partner is treated in law as if the provider is not the natural parent of a child thereby conceived unless the court finds satisfactory evidence that the provider and the intended parent intended for the provider to be a parent.

(2)If the provider of ova, semen, or embryos is not the original source of the ova or sperm, each original provider’s written consent to the donation is required unless that person has executed a writing to consent to the donation, or to waive or relinquish their right to the genetic material, or as otherwise ordered by a court of law.

(e)(1)Notwithstanding any other law, persons who are not married to one another and who share legal control over the disposition of embryos shall not be prevented from entering into a written agreement whereby one person renounces all legal interest in the embryos, with the specific intent that the person renouncing all legal interest shall not be a legal parent of any child conceived with use of the embryos, despite any prior oral or written agreements, or legal judgments to the contrary. After that interest has been renounced in a writing signed by all persons with legal interest in or control over disposition of the embryos, the renouncing person shall be treated in law as a donor, and not a legal parent. Upon execution of that agreement, the person who retains legal interest in and control over disposition of the embryos shall have the sole right to determine the use and disposition of the embryos, including the right to attempt conception of a child, subject to any limitation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d). Either party may file the agreement with the court, and the court shall issue an order establishing the nonparentage of the donor.

(2)If persons who share legal control over and interest in one or more embryos are married to one another at the time of signing the agreement, the agreement shall only become legally binding upon the court’s entry of a final decree of dissolution that incorporates the agreement, after which the presumptions pursuant to Section 7540 or subdivisions (a), (b), or (c) of Section 7611 shall not apply.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases, 1993–2019 · leading case: In re K.M.H., 169 P.3d 1025 (Kan. 2007).
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In re K.M.H., 169 P.3d 1025 (Kan. 2007). · cites it 4× “”); see also Cal. Fam. Code § 7613 (a) (West 2004) (same); Colo.”
Km v. Eg, 117 P.3d 673 (Cal. 2005). · cites it 5× “(Fam.Code, § 7613, subd. (b).) [1] Under the other provision, rules for determining fatherhood are to be used for determining motherhood "[i]nsofar as practical.”
In re Marriage of Buzzanca, 61 Cal. App. 4th 1410 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 5× “In essence, Family Code section 7613 is nothing more than the codification of the common law rule articulated in Sorensen : By consenting to a medical procedure which results in the birth of a child — which the Sorensen court has held establishes parenthood by common law…”
John A. v. Buzzanca, 61 Cal. App. 4th 1410 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 5× “In essence, Family Code section 7613 is nothing more than the codification of the common law rule articulated in Sorensen : By consenting to a medical procedure which results in the birth of a child — which the Sorensen court has held establishes parenthood by common law…”
Straub v. B.M.T. ex rel. Todd, 645 N.E.2d 597 (Ind. 1994). · cites it 2× “1994); Cal.Fam. Code § 7613 (West Supp. 1994); N.”
Vernoff ex rel. Vernoff v. Astrue, 568 F.3d 1102 (9th Cir. 2009). “Vernoff has not persuasively argued that she would prevail in any suit filed under § 7630(c), based only upon the undisputed biological relationship between the insured and Brandalynn. 7 She has not provided any evidence of consent to the conception by the insured or his…”
Astrue v. Capato ex rel. B. N. C., 566 U.S. 541 (2012). “, Cal. Fam. Code Ann. § 7613(b) (West Supp.”
Steven S. v. Deborah D., 127 Cal. App. 4th 319 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “Mary K., supra, 179 Cal.App.3d at pp. 394, 396 [close relationship considered, however, where sperm was not provided through a physician].”
Doe v. Doe, 710 A.2d 1297 (Conn. 1998). “In the same vein, recognizing that the legislature may not have contemplated the application of the artificial insemination statute to a gestational surrogacy case in which the genetic donors are unknown to the court, the Buzzanea court then turned to California’s artificial…”
Guardianship of I.H., 2003 ME 130, 834 A.2d 922. · cites it 2× “The California statute to which the court refers is CAL. FAM. CODE § 7613(b) (West 1994), although that statute by its terms does not appear to guarantee anonymity: "The donor of semen provided to a licensed physician and surgeon for use in artificial insemination of a woman…”
Johnson v. Superior Court, 80 Cal. App. 4th 1050 (Cal. Ct. App. 2000). “Cryobank’s Agreement Conflicts with Public Policy Family Code section 7613 provides: “(a) If, under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon and with the consent of her husband, a wife is inseminated artificially with semen donated by a man not her husband, the…”
Levin v. Levin, 626 N.E.2d 527 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993). “§ 9-10-201 (1991); Cal.Fam.Code § 7613 (West 1993) (effective Jan.”
Show all 16 citing cases →
Cal. Family Code § 7613(b): 3 cases
Astrue v. Capato ex rel. B. N. C., 566 U.S. 541 (2012). “, Cal. Fam. Code Ann. § 7613(b) (West Supp.”
Guardianship of I.H., 2003 ME 130, 834 A.2d 922. “The California statute to which the court refers is CAL. FAM. CODE § 7613(b) (West 1994), although that statute by its terms does not appear to guarantee anonymity: "The donor of semen provided to a licensed physician and surgeon for use in artificial insemination of a woman…”
Steven S. v. Deborah D., 127 Cal. App. 4th 319 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005). “Mary K., supra, 179 Cal.App.3d at pp. 394, 396 [close relationship considered, however, where sperm was not provided through a physician].”
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