Mediate Michigan

LINCOLN — A woman involved in a 20-year, same-sex relationship has the right to seek custody and visitation rights for a child born to her now-estranged partner, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday.

The case marks the first time the state court has provided guidance in the emotional area of custody and visitation rights of same-sex couples who have children.

Under state law, Teri Latham of Omaha could not adopt the boy born to her partner or claim legal standing as a parent because the state doesn’t recognize same-sex unions.

But the Supreme Court ruled Friday that she had the right to argue she had, in essence, become a parent through her parenting of a boy born to her partner, Susan Schwerdtfeger, in 2001 through in-vitro fertilization.

via Ruling: Woman can seek custody – Omaha.com.