In re: Estate of Schappell

In Re: The Estate of Michael Gerard Schappell, No. 15, September Term, 2024 INTESTATE SUCCESSION – EQUITABLE ADOPTION – INTENT TO ADOPT – Supreme Court of Maryland held that claimant may establish right to inherit from intestate decedent, who died with no surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, surviving issue, parents, siblings, or grandparents, under doctrine of equitable adoption upon satisfying by clear and convincing evidence two-step test demonstrating proof of decedent’s intent to adopt and that decedent acted in accord with that intent. First, person claiming equitable adoption…