Thorndike v. Lisio
Annotate this CaseJessica Lisio and Tammy Thorndike, who lives as a man, began a relationship in 2005 when Lisio’s son, Caden, was one year old. In 2009, Arianna was born to Lisio, who was artificially inseminated. That same year, Lisio and Thorndike registered as domestic partners. In 2012, Thorndike moved out. In 2014, Thorndike filed a complaint for a determination of paternity and parental rights and responsibilities. Thorndike subsequently moved to amend his complaint to allege de facto parenthood. The court found by clear and convincing evidence that Thorndike was a de facto parent and then entered a parental rights and responsibilities order that provided for the children’s primary residence to be with Lisio and for the children to have contact with Thorndike on a gradually increasing schedule. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding that the court did not err in finding that Thorndike was the de facto parent of Caden and Arianna.
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