Neely v. Thomasson

Chief Justice TOAL:

This case involves a probate matter. The probate court ruled that Nancy Thomasson (Nancy) was not the child of John Thomas Neely (Decedent) and therefore could not inherit from his estate. Nancy appealed and the circuit court affirmed. Nancy appealed once again, and the court of appeals held that (1) the probate court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to determine paternity, and (2) the divorce decree between Decedent and Josephine Morgan Wells (Mother) constituted a prior, final adjudication of paternity. Neely v. Thomasson, 355 S.C. 521, 586 S.E.2d 141…