Boatman v. Dawkins

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

The primary issue in this case is whether a statute which requires an illegitimate child to file a claim for her share of her father’s estate within a shorter period of time than would be required for a legitimate child to do the same thing violates the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. We uphold the constitutionality of such a statutory scheme and affirm the trial court.

On May 17, 1983, Steve Holmes died intestate, leaving an illegitimate child, Kristy Holmes, and another heir. On May 31, 1983, appellee, Mable Dawkins, filed a petition in probate…