Welch v. Welch

Benham, Presiding Justice.

In the 1960’s, appellant-plaintiffs were placed into the custody of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Welch by order of the juvenile court. Although appellants remained in the custody of the Welches until they reached their majority, the Welches never initiated proceedings to adopt appellants formally. When no wills were offered for probate after the Welches died in 1992, appellants filed an action seeking children’s shares of the estates based on alleged “virtual adoption.” After appellants presented their evidence at a bench trial, the trial court granted appellees’ motion for…