State statutes and court cases involving Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) are examined to determine legal definitions of father and mother. While traditional definitions are not disturbed overall by statutes and cases involving use of artificial insemination by donor among married couples, complications and disputes between parties involved in surrogacy arrangements and the use of artificial insemination by donor among single women and lesbian couples have resulted in greater reliance on the intentions of the parenting agents to legally define parent/child relationships. Alternative family forms are obtaining greater legitimacy, although a preference for married, heterosexual couples remains. Potential roles that clinical practitioners might play within the context of ART are explored. (Contains 22 notes.)