Surrogate child ruled an orphan

A California toddler, Jaycee Louise Buzzanca, was conceived for cash by a surrogate mother using egg and sperm from donor banks. Now she has been ruled legally parentless after what an appeals court called the "most extraordinary" surrogacy case.

John and Luanna Buzzanca hired a surrogate mum in 1994 to carry Jaycee to term. But one month before the child was born, John Buzzanca filed for divorce. His lawyers argued that Jaycee was not a "child of the marriage" under existing family law. Orange County Judge Robert Monarch agreed.

He ruled Mr Buzzanca had no financial responsibility for two-year-old Jaycee. And while Mrs Buzzanca has custody of the child, Judge Monarch said she was "not entitled to be declared the legal mother at this time."