Evjen v. Novotny Ex Rel. Novotny

LARSON, Justice.

Under our intestate succession laws, an illegitimate child is considered to be an heir if the father has “recognized” the child as his own, providing the recognition is “general and notorious.” Iowa Code § 633.222 (1989). The principal issue in this ease is whether a putative father, who died approximately a week after learning of the pregnancy of the mother, generally and notoriously recognized the child for purposes of section 633.222. The district court held that he did, and we agree.

Statements as to our standard of review have ranged from de novo, see, e.g., McNeill v.…