A white couple in Florida who welcomed a South Asian baby after an apparent IVF error say they now have a custody agreement for their daughter — but they are still trying to determine whether their last frozen embryo is actually theirs.
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills turned to fertility treatment in hopes of expanding their family, beginning the process in December of last year.
They had three viable embryos stored with The Fertility Center of Orlando and believed a successful pregnancy had resulted from the transfer of one of their own embryos.
But when their baby was born in December, the couple said they were shocked to discover that, although both parents are white, their child was not genetically related to them. Testing later found the baby was 100 percent South Asian.
Tiffany and Steven previously said they hoped to raise their daughter, Shea, while also feeling compelled to locate her biological parents.
That search appears to have reached a major milestone. Court filings and statements from the couple’s attorney confirm that Shea’s biological parents have now been identified, and the two families have agreed to a confidential custody arrangement allowing Tiffany and Steven to remain the child’s permanent custodial parents.
“I’m glad the parties have reached an agreement while this child is relatively young,” Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Margaret Schreiber said at a hearing on Monday, June 15, per the Orlando Sentinel.
The baby’s biological parents will remain private, and the arrangement is described as a “mutually devised custody agreement” intended to let both families move forward while protecting the child’s privacy.
Even so, the couple’s concerns have not ended there, as they are also pursuing legal action relating to their other frozen embryos.
According to court papers obtained by PEOPLE, the Fertility Center of Orlando told them that only one viable embryo remains. Another embryo cannot currently be accounted for, while a third transfer ended in miscarriage.
That remaining embryo has now been moved to a different clinic, where testing is underway to determine its parentage. Results could take about six weeks.
“Through the undersigned, their new provider contacted Defendant Fertility Center of Orlando to arrange transport and received the embryo attributed to them. That embryo will be tested for parentage and then the Plaintiffs will determine next steps,” the legal filing stated.
Attorneys for the couple have said they do not want to close out the case until they have more answers about what happened to the embryos and whether additional laboratory or clinic errors occurred.
The clinic itself has also announced that it has shut down.
It said operations officially ended 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.”