Legal Opinion

In re Baby Girl Lake

Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands

Decided December 19, 1995No. Family No. Fm1/1995; Family No. Fm5/1995PublishedCited by 3 opinions

1Opinion of the CourtDiase, Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This Court is asked to decide an issue which, in the succeeding years, has been presented with a surprisingly increasing frequency. Specifically, the Court is asked by the petitioners in both cases to *68posthumously adjudicate the putative fathers as the paternal parents of the minor children. For the reasons stated below, the Court holds that it is without statutory authority to do so and will dismiss the petitions.

FACTS

On April 12, 1995, the Petitioner Irma Lake ("Lake") filed an action for paternity. In her petition, Lake alleges that a female child, referred to as "Baby…

2Cases cited3 opinions

Rhymer v. Government of the Virgin IslandsDistrict Court, Virgin Islands · 1959
In re Estate of MoolenaarSupreme Court of The Virgin Islands · 1989
In re the Legitimation of WilliamsSupreme Court of The Virgin Islands · 1979

3Cited by3 opinions

In re the Adoption of L.O.F.Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands · 2015
Beatrice A. Nielsen Tyler v. Louis Armstrong, as Administrator of the Estate of Felix FrancisCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2004
Nielsen Tyler v. ArmstrongCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2004