Murphy v. Holland

In the court below, Raleigh Paris Holland, Jr. (Paris), filed a bill of complaint seeking to have himself declared “the legitimate and sole heir” of Raleigh Paris Holland (Holland), who died intestate owning a 77.25-acre tract of land in Henry County. Mae Holland Murphy (Murphy), Holland’s sister, was named defendant, and she filed an answer in which she claimed ownership of the land. Murphy also filed a plea of laches.

After an ore tenus hearing, the trial court overruled Murphy’s plea of laches and held that Paris was Holland’s legitimate son, entitled to inherit his father’s entire estate.…