Music v. Rachford

Citation654 So.2d 1234
Decision Date09 May 1995
Docket NumberNo. 94-977,94-977
Parties20 Fla. L. Weekly D1146 Brenda Louise MUSIC, Appellant, v. Tara Sue RACHFORD, Appellee.
CourtCourt of Appeal of Florida (US)

David A. Garfinkel of Datz, Jacobson, Lembcke & Garfinkel, Jacksonville, for appellant.

Jeffrey C. Peterson, Jacksonville, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

This is an appeal from a final order dismissing appellant's complaint with prejudice for failure to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. We affirm.

In her complaint appellant alleged that the parties were involved in a lesbian relationship, forming a domestic partnership, which lasted from February 1989 until September 1993. She further alleged the parties decided to raise a child together, and as she was unable to have a child, appellee was artificially inseminated. Appellant accompanied appellee to prenatal classes, was present during the birth of the child, and cohabited with appellee and the child, who was given appellant's surname, until September 1993 when the child was three years old. Appellant alleged that in 1993 when the relationship ended, appellee terminated all access to the child. The primary issues on appeal pertain to her complaint for shared parental responsibility and visitation.

We reject appellant's argument that she is a de facto parent and as such, entitled to the rights of a parent under chapter 61, Florida Statutes, and AFFIRM on the controlling authority of Meeks v. Garner, 598 So.2d 261 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992) ("[v]isitation rights are, with regard to a non-parent, statutory, and the court has no inherent authority to award visitation"; the courts have "no authority to compel visitation between a child and one who is neither a parent, grandparent, nor great-grandparent").

JOANOS, MICKLE and LAWRENCE, JJ., concur.

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9 cases
  • T.M.H. v. D.M.T., Case No. 5D09-3559
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • 23 Diciembre 2011
    ...parent," and discussing in detail Florida statutes under which a non-parent may petition for custody or visitation); Music v. Rachford, 654 So 2d 1234 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995) (rejecting former lesbian partner's claim for child visitation and shared parental responsibility based onstatus as "de ......
  • T.M.H. v. D.M.T.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • 26 Enero 2012
    ...parent,” and discussing in detail Florida statutes under which a non-parent may petition for custody or visitation); Music v. Rachford, 654 So.2d 1234 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995) (rejecting former lesbian partner's claim for child [79 So.3d 808] visitation and shared parental responsibility based o......
  • TB v. LRM
    • United States
    • Superior Court of Pennsylvania
    • 5 Junio 2000
    ...biological child; de facto parenthood doctrine has no basis independent of juvenile dependency concerns). See also Music v. Rachford, 654 So.2d 1234 (Fla. App.1995) (holding visitation rights with regard to non-parent are statutory and court has no inherent authority to award visitation); A......
  • E.N.O. v. L.M.M.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
    • 29 Junio 1999
    ...order granting visitation rights to former partner because statutory law occupies field of child visitation); Music v. Rachford, 654 So.2d 1234 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1995) (per curiam) (visitation rights with regard to nonparent solely statutory); Alison D. v. Virginia M., 77 N.Y.2d 651, 656, 56......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
2 books & journal articles
  • Family law cases as law reform litigation: unrecognized parents and the story of Alison D. v. Virginia M.
    • United States
    • Columbia Journal of Gender and Law Vol. 17 No. 3, September 2008
    • 22 Septiembre 2008
    ...689-90 (Vt. 1997). For other appellate rulings rejecting visitation claims by lesbian co-parents, see, for example, Music v. Rachford, 654 So. 2d 1234 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1995); In re Visitation with C.B.L., 723 N.E.2d 316 (111. App. Ct. 1999); Kulla v. McNulty, 472 N.W.2d 175 (Minn. Ct. A......
  • Nonmarital Unions, Family Definitions, and Custody Decision Making
    • United States
    • Family Relations No. 60-5, December 2011
    • 1 Diciembre 2011
    ...v. Query, 736 So.2d 106 (Florida, 1999) X X BIOMariga v. Flint, 822 N.E.2d 620 (Indiana, 2005) X X X JOINTMusic v. Rachford, 654 So.2d 1234 (Florida, 1995) X BIOR.H. v. E.W., 796 N.E.2d 729 (Illinois, 2003) X X BIOWakeman v. Dixon, 921 So.2d 669 (Florida, 2006) X X BIOWhite v. Thompson, 11 ......

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