A Florida IVF mix-up that shocked families and raised complex legal questions has resolved the biological parents of a baby girl decided not to pursue custody.
The case centers on Tiffany Score and Steven Mills, who discovered months after their daughter’s birth that the embryo implanted during their in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was not biologically theirs. Although the child’s biological parents said they wanted to raise her, they ultimately chose not to challenge custody because of Florida’s legal framework and the emotional toll of a prolonged court battle.
What happened in the Florida IVF mix-up?
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills underwent IVF treatment at the Fertility Center of Orlando after creating three viable embryos.
One embryo was implanted in April 2025, and Score gave birth to a baby girl, Shea, in December 2025.
Soon after the birth, the couple noticed Shea did not physically resemble either of them. Genetic testing later confirmed their fears: the embryo transferred during the IVF procedure belonged to another couple.
The discovery prompted Score and Mills to file a lawsuit against the fertility clinic while also seeking to identify the child’s biological parents.
How were the biological parents identified?
Following genetic testing, the biological parents were identified in April 2026.
Both families have agreed to keep their identities private.
After learning of the mistake, the families met privately on multiple occasions. According to attorneys, the meetings were emotional, with both sides sharing grief over the circumstances created by the clinic’s error.
Why didn’t the biological parents seek custody?
According to attorney Rob Marcereau, who represents the biological parents, his clients would have preferred to raise Shea if they had been given the opportunity.
However, Florida law generally recognizes the woman who gives birth as the child’s legal parent, making any custody challenge difficult and uncertain.
Marcereau said his clients concluded that pursuing custody would likely involve the following:
- A lengthy legal battle.
- Significant emotional hardship.
- Uncertain chances of success.
As a result, they made what he described as the “agonizing” decision not to fight for custody.
Who has custody of Shea now?
Under a formal custody agreement, Tiffany Score and Steven Mills will remain Shea’s permanent custodial parents.
The agreement also allows both families to begin building a relationship while protecting the privacy of the biological parents.
Score and Mills have repeatedly said their love for Shea has never changed despite learning they are not her biological parents.
In an earlier statement, they said they would “love and will be this child’s parents forever.”
What happened to the fertility clinic?
The Fertility Center of Orlando announced in April that it was shutting down operations.
Another fertility clinic is expected to operate from the same location.
While Score and Mills have already filed legal action, the biological parents are also preparing a separate lawsuit against the clinic and the physician involved.
The litigation is expected to focus on how the embryo mix-up occurred and whether proper safeguards were followed.
Why is this case significant?
The case highlights the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding assisted reproductive technology.
It also raises broader issues about:
- IVF clinic safety protocols.
- Embryo identification procedures.
- Legal parenthood in cases involving reproductive errors.
- The emotional impact on both biological and custodial families.
Legal experts say cases involving embryo mix-ups remain rare but can expose gaps in existing reproductive and family law.
What happens next?
With custody now settled, both families say their focus is on Shea’s well-being and developing an appropriate relationship moving forward.
Meanwhile, the expected lawsuits against the fertility clinic could provide further insight into how the error occurred and whether changes to IVF procedures or regulations may be needed.
The bottom line
The Florida IVF mix-up underscores the profound emotional and legal consequences that can arise from errors in fertility treatment. Although Shea’s biological parents said they wished they could have raised her, they ultimately chose not to pursue custody, allowing Tiffany Score and Steven Mills to remain her legal parents while both families work toward a shared future centered on the child’s best interests.
TL;DR
- A Florida couple discovered their daughter was born from another family’s embryo after an IVF mix-up.
- Genetic testing identified the baby’s biological parents in April 2026.
- The biological parents said they wanted custody but decided not to pursue a legal challenge.
- A custody agreement allows Tiffany Score and Steven Mills to remain the child’s permanent custodial parents.
- The fertility clinic involved has since closed, and further legal action is expected.