Judge Denies Jason Patric Paternity & Custody Rights of Bio Son

A paternity and custody petition filed by actor Jason Patric has been denied. Patric, better known for his roles in Speed 2: Cruise Control, The Lost Boys and Narc, made tabloid news headlines in late 2012 when details surrounding the birth of his biological son were revealed to the media. The three-year old boy was born under unusual circumstances — he was conceived from the artificial insemination of model Danielle Schreiber with the donated sperm cells of Patric, who reportedly made the donation in lieu of palimony and on the condition of complete anonymity back in 2009.

Patric would come to regret his initial decision in 2011 when he attempted to reconcile his relationship with Schreiber. The actor bonded with his son but was unable to conciliate his differences with the child’s mother. By May of 2012, the couple had once again split, but this time Patric assembled a legal strategy to claim shared custody of Gus.

Reduced to donor status

In December 2012, a judge recognized the benefit of parental bonding and granted temporary visitation rights to Patric while the facts of the case were evaluated. At that time Schreiber had legal and physical custody, which was affirmed. The mother stated that she was opposed to any court-ordered visitation but that she would agree to allow Patric to visit Gus as she saw fit.

The court’s decision to not grant paternity or custody to Patric should not surprise Plymouth family law attorneys. Although there is no question that Patric is the biological father, there is also no question that he voluntarily acted as an unmarried man who agreed to donate his sperm cells to an unmarried woman. There are no legal provisions to award him paternity under the present conditions.

While Patric does not have paternity or custody rights with regard to Gus, it is unclear whether he is still be allowed to visit him. The temporary visitation rights granted by the court in December 2012 have ceased under the new ruling.