Yesterday, we blogged about Sofia Vergara‘s ex fighting for parenthood despite no longer being romantically involved with her and now today, Sherri Shepherd was also dealt a blow by her ex over parenthood.
A judge ruled Tuesday that Shepherd is legally the mother of a now 8-month old baby boy, conceived via surrogate and born on July 28, 2014. Shepherd and ex husband Lamar Sally arranged for the surrogacy while the two were still together, but split before the baby, Lamar Sally Jr, was born. Court papers show the couple separated April 16, 2014.
With the ruling, Shepherd’s name will be listed on the baby’s birth certificate as the mother. The judge found that Shepherd was one half of the two people who caused the baby to be brought into this world.
“The court upheld what we believe is and should be the law in Pennsylvania,” Sally’s attorney Tiffany Palmer told E!News. “If you set out to conceive a child through assisted reproduction and enter into contracts to do so, you cannot just walk away from your legal parental responsibility because you changed your mind.”
So far no comment from Sherri but Sally’s attorneys said video shown during the proceedings of Shepherd expressing excitement over the surrogacy helped sway the judge’s decision. Indeed, we too blogged in 2013 about the surrogacy and Shepherd’s glee over becoming a mother with Sally.
Shepherd has a 9-year old son, Jeffrey, with her ex husband comedian Jeff Tarpley.