How One Louisiana Law Complicates Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Pregnancy Announcement

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, known for her tumultuous past and recent release from prison, has recently announced her pregnancy with boyfriend Ken Urker. While the news has been met with excitement, it has also introduced a legal complication due to her current marital status and Louisiana state law.

Blanchard, who married Ryan Anderson while in prison, separated from him three months after her release. However, her divorce from Anderson is not yet finalized.

Louisiana law states that if a woman is married to someone other than the biological father at the time of the child’s conception or if she has been divorced for less than 300 days, the husband or ex-husband is presumed to be the father unless paternity is legally established.

This situation was highlighted by TikTok user @bayoubrandi, sparking a wave of comments from women sharing similar experiences. One commenter noted, "Same in Texas. I had to do this with my divorce," while another shared, "Louisiana, since I wasn’t divorced 2 years yet, my ex-husband had to come to the hospital and sign papers or they would have put him on the birth certificate as a third party! Crazy!"

Others echoed these sentiments, sharing their own stories of legal hurdles and the necessity of paternity affidavits. "I went through this in Thibodaux," one woman commented, "my ex-husband had to come sign legal documents at the hospital to state he wasn’t the father before my son’s father could sign the birth certificate."

Blanchard's predicament is further complicated by Missouri law, which similarly prevents the finalization of a divorce if the mother is pregnant. Danielle Drake, an attorney at Parks & Drake, explained to The Guardian, “The application [of the law] is an outright ban.” This means Blanchard's divorce from Anderson might be delayed until after her child is born.

Blanchard's announcement of her pregnancy has added another layer to her already complex life. In a YouTube video, she shared her joy and anticipation: "We’re both very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood... All that matters is that I’m healthy, the baby is healthy, and the relationship with Ken is healthy."

However, the legal reality remains that her estranged husband, Ryan Anderson, will be involved in some capacity until the legal matters are resolved. This includes potential court appearances and the necessary steps to establish Ken Urker as the legal father of the child.

As Blanchard says she is fully prepared for these challenges, she continues to express her commitment to being a good mother, drawing from her own troubled past to ensure a better future for her child. "All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby," she said in her announcement.

Blanchard's path has undoubtedly been filled with ups and downs, and with this latest news, it is far from over.