Sherri Shepherd Ordered To Pay Child Support

By Sheryl Rentz on December 15, 2015

Sherri Shepherd, former co-host of the popular daytime talk show The View has been ordered to pay child support to a child that she and her former husband had through surrogacy.

According to news reports, the courts have ordered Shepherd to pay child support despite the fact that the child is not biologically hers and she is divorced from her ex-husband Lamar Sally, who is the child’s biological father. The child was conceived using Sally’s sperm, but is Shepherd’s son by law since she was married to Sally at the time and had agreed to raise the child.

But, the marriage between Shepherd and Sally fell apart when the surrogate mother was mid-term. Sally filed for separation and Shepherd filed for divorce. Sally sued for sole custody, alimony, and child support.

Shepherd told People magazine that she did not want the child and only went along with the surrogacy to prevent losing her husband. She was not at the child’s birth, attempted to keep her name off the birth certificate, and did not take responsibility for support of the child.

In April, the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas ruled that Shepherd must pay support. In November of 2015, the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that Shepherd’s name must go on the child’s birth certificate. Shepherd has been ordered to pay alimony and child support.

This is a unique case in which the mother shares no DNA with the child, was not at the birth, is not with the birth father, and yet must pay alimony and child support. Shepherd allegedly plans on filing an appeal but will make payments in the meantime as required by the court.

Custody battles are never easy. Whatever the circumstances of your divorce, it is crucial that you have a family law attorney by your side to protect your best interests. Do not hesitate to call a Pennsylvania family law attorney who will fight for your rights every step of the way.

The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C. can help. Contact us at (610) 645-0100.