NY court still considering new definition of parenthood

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's highest court is still reconsidering the definition of parenthood in two cases of former same-sex couples where the biological mothers kept the children and ex-partners sought legal standing to see them.

The Court of Appeals says Tuesday that those two are still pending and undecided.

The seven judges in June peppered lawyers with questions about how and where to draw a line, and possible complications of defining parenthood without adoption or biological link since New York legalized same-sex marriage.

In one case, lower courts ruled the ex-partner has no standing.

In the other, the ex-partner pays child support and was later granted visitation.

Lawyers for each child urged interpreting the law to favor the best interests of children, with family court decisions made case by case.

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The Gayly - 7/5/2016 @ 9:55 a.m. CDT