Alexis Cirel hosts Spring Webinar Series discussing Death, Divorce, and Assisted Reproductive Technology
04/07/2022On April 7th, partner Alexis Cirel appeared as the featured guest on Jonathan Shenkman’s Spring Webinar Series entitled Death, Divorce, and Assisted Reproductive Technology: Estate Planning and Family Law Considerations. Alexis is a partner in the Firm’s Matrimonial and Family Law Department, as well as a founding partner and practice leader of the Firm’s Fertility Law Group. In this program, Alexis discusses how the staggering advances in the science of assisted reproduction have far outpaced the law, presenting novel legal implications across many disciplines including domestic relations and estate planning.
This program included an in-depth discussion of these cutting-edge estate planning and family law issues, including those that arise upon death and in the event of divorce when reproductive genetic material (eggs, sperm, and embryos) is cryopreserved and stored for later use. In particular, what becomes of a couple's stored embryos in the event of divorce? What happens when courts are called upon to determine the rights of progenitors (intended parents or genetic contributors) when they pursue IVF and the allocation of embryos upon divorce? Given that it is possible for stored genetic material to be used for procreation after the death of the genetic contributor, will a posthumously conceived child be legally recognized as the decedent’s heir for purposes of inheritance and any survivor benefits and, if so, under what conditions? As Alexis explains, while the law in this area is developing and varies by state, certain trends in decisional law and new legislation have emerged, which guide and inform practitioners in this space.
Watch Alexis here:
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