A couple from Florida, after a mix-up at an IVF clinic, have reached an agreement with the biological parents of their daughter, who was not genetically theirs.
Stephen Mills and Tiffany Score have connected with the parents of their six-month-old daughter, Thea, and have arrived at a custody arrangement that lets Mills and Score maintain permanent parental rights. This was detailed in court documents filed in Orange County on Friday.
Mills and Score have opted to keep the specifics of their agreement confidential, but the court filings indicate they will “continue to have permanent custody of their daughter.” Their attorney mentioned their strong commitment to respecting the privacy of Thea’s biological parents and emphasized the couple’s intention to foster a relationship based on trust and friendship with them.
Mills and Score initiated legal action in January against the Orlando Fertility Center and its leading reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Milton McNicol, claiming that the wrong embryo was implanted last year. They were shocked to learn at the birth of their child on December 11, 2025, that she was not genetically linked to them and her ethnicity was not what they expected.
Subsequent DNA tests confirmed that they were not related to Thea, who is entirely South Asian.
The couple indicated to the court that they have selected a new medical facility for any future IVF treatments, stating that they transferred their remaining embryos to this new clinic. According to court documents, they will undergo testing to figure out the genetic relationship of the fetus and plan their next steps accordingly.
They also informed the judge about receiving detailed reports on “Laboratory and Clinic Errors” from the Orlando Fertility Center.
“I am pleased that the parties reached an agreement while the child is still young,” said Orlando Judge Margaret Shriver during the court hearing on Monday.
The couple had created three embryos at their initial clinic, but after transferring one and experiencing a miscarriage, there remains uncertainty about the fate of the third embryo.
Previously, the Orlando fertility clinic announced it would be closing its doors on May 20 “after careful consideration.”
Mills and Score expressed their unwavering commitment, stating: “Today, just like the day our daughter was born, one thing is absolutely certain: we will forever love her and be her parents.”
