Israeli soldiers are becoming fathers, even though some of them passed away years ago. For up to 72 hours after death, sperm cells are still alive. That means they can be harvested and frozen, where they can later be used through IVF to produce children. This is allowing widows who wanted to be mothers, and parents who wanted to be grandparents, to have children even though the fathers of those children have died in war. .

While this sounds unique and uncommon, the procedure has been around for some time. Additionally, there’s no law against it or other legal implications regarding it. Because of that, family members making the request are generally granted permission for the retrieval and freezing procedure. It may not be talked about elsewhere very often, but Israel is now familiar with it and its value.

Getting approval is becoming more complicated, however, because some widows remarry and move on, having children with their new partner. When that takes place, they may be against the use of their deceased husband’s sperm to create a child with another man. Even if the parents of the deceased person want to be grandparents, the woman who was his wife at the time of his death generally has the final say.

Unmarried soldiers, however, aren’t facing this issue. In most cases, it’s up to the deceased soldier’s parents to prove that the soldier wanted children. If that can be shown, and it is now a required question when they enlist, it’s likely the court will approve retrieval of the sperm. Now, others are becoming interested in this procedure for loved ones who are the victims of accidents or who have serious illnesses, though it is only available to those who have died serving in the military at this time.

Finding a surrogate who will agree to carry a baby, and even sometimes help raise the child of a deceased soldier is generally easy, with reportedly hundreds of women volunteering. It’s seen as a display of national solidarity, and a preference for having a child through a sperm donor who will have family involvement as the child grows up.

At The Surrogacy Law Center, we help intended parents with the legal help designed to protect their rights – and the rights of their future children. To learn more, contact us today!