Sodermark v. Karas

These consolidated appeals present the common issue of whether an acknowledged illegitimate child may inherit from her father who died intestate never having married the child’s mother. A subsidiary issue involves the right of an illegitimate to be appointed the administrator of the estate under these circumstances.

The relevant sections of the Probate Act read as follows:

“Sec. 12. Illegitimates.

An illegitimate child is heir of his mother and of any maternal ancestor, and of any person from whom his mother might have inherited, if living; and the lawful issue of an illegitimate person shall…