A Florida couple who discovered their daughter was not biologically related to them after an IVF mistake has now reached a custody arrangement with the child’s genetic parents, allowing them to continue raising her.
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills welcomed their daughter, Shea, in December after pursuing IVF treatment at the Fertility Center of Orlando.
They later brought legal action against the clinic, saying it had been storing three viable embryos for them and that the wrong embryo had been transferred to Score.
The court filing said both parents are white, but their IVF-conceived baby was described as ‘a racially non-Caucasian child’.
Genetic testing later confirmed that Shea was not biologically connected to either Tiffany or Steven.
Before Shea’s biological parents were found, the couple said they wanted to continue raising her and also felt “a moral obligation to find her genetic parents”.
In April, they confirmed that Shea’s biological family had been identified, ending the search that followed months of uncertainty and raising new questions about custody, privacy and the fate of their remaining embryos.
“This ends one chapter in our heartbreaking journey, but it raises new issues that will have to be resolved. In addition, questions about the disposition of our own embryos are still unanswered and are even more unlikely to ever be answered,” they told the outlet.
PEOPLE now reports that both families have agreed to a “mutually devised custody agreement,” with the details being kept private.
The report also states that Tiffany and Steven will ‘retain their rights to continue as permanent custodial parents’.
A spokesperson for the couple said Tiffany and Steve ‘appreciate’ the role the media have played ‘in bringing them and Shea to the point where Shea’s genetic parents were able to be identified and fears about Shea’s future have been settled’.
The spokesperson added that the pair are ‘committed to respect the privacy concerns of Shea’s genetic parents’.
They also said Tiffany and Steven had ‘begun and intend to continue to foster a relationship of friendship and trust,’ with Shea’s biological parents, and are ‘committed to protecting their daughter from harmful intrusion on her privacy’.
The Fertility Center of Orlando has also announced on its website that it ceased operations on May 20.
“After thoughtful consideration, Fertility Center of Orlando will be closing its operations on May 20, 2026.
Patients are welcomed and encouraged to transition their care to CNY Fertility. CNY Fertility is committed to supporting your continuity of care. You will continue to see many of the same trusted and familiar faces who have been part of your care team, along with additional team members dedicated to supporting you on your journey.”
“Cryopreserved specimen are currently being stored and maintained by CNY Fertility.”
“We are grateful for the trust you have placed in Fertility Center of Orlando and are honored to have been part of your journey.”