The Florida Supreme Court went on to rule recently that a man who went on to offer his sperm to a couple for at-home artificial insemination did not automatically give up his paternal rights.

The 4-3 decision went on to determine that the previous legislation that surrounds artificial insemination only went on to apply to the use of assisted reproductive technology - ART, which is defined as procreative procedures involving the laboratory handling when it comes to human eggs or preembryos, says the ruling.

Apparently, the case in question goes on to involve Angel Rivera, who is a Florida man who went on to give his sperm to Ashley Brito and Jennifer Salas for use with an at-home artificial insemination kit. 

Brito apparently gave birth to the child, and she, along with Salas, was listed as the parent of the child on the birth certificate. The couple went on to raise the child together for more than a year before separating, as per the ruling. Rivera then went on to file a petition in circuit court seeking to be recognized as the legal father of the child. 

The court, however, denied this petition on the grounds that he went on to give up his paternal rights as per section 742.14, which states that the donor of any egg, sperm, or even pre-embryo, other than the commissioning couple or a father who has gone on to execute a preplanned adoption agreement as per s. 63.213, shall not be subject to the maternal or paternal rights and even obligations with regard to the donation or the resulting children.

In the decision made by the court, it said Rivera happened to be a sperm donor who had not met either of the two exceptions of relinquishment of the statute. Moreover, the court further said that the artificial insemination procedure, since it was not carried out in a clinical setting, does not alter the applicability of the statute.

Notably, the Second District also affirmed the ruling made by the circuit court.