Legal Opinion
Adkins v. McEldowney
West Virginia Supreme Court
Decided July 13, 1981No. 14959, 15404 and CC919PublishedCited by 19 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Harshbarger, Chief Justice:
We have consolidated three cases to determine rights of illegitimate children to inherit from their fathers. Our statute, Code, 42-1-5, 1 limits illegitimates’ inheritance rights to their mothers’ estates, but its constitutionality is questioned against federal and state equal protection clauses, U. S. Const, amend. XIV, and W. Va. Const, art. III, §17.
The United States Supreme Court found that equal protection is violated by a statute that denies an illegitimate child intestacy rights in his or her father’s estate. Trimble v. Gordon, 430 U.S. 762, 97 S.Ct. 1459, 52…
2Cases cited27 opinions
- Craig v. BorenSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- Weber v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Orr v. OrrSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
- Trimble v. GordonSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
- Mathews v. LucasSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
22 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by19 opinions
- In Re DostertWest Virginia Supreme Court · 1984
- Moore v. GoodeWest Virginia Supreme Court · 1988
- Murphey v. MurpheyIdaho Supreme Court · 1982
- Lufft v. LufftWest Virginia Supreme Court · 1992
- State ex rel. J. L. K. v. R. A. I.West Virginia Supreme Court · 1982
14 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.