Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri

If a woman gave a child up for adoption at birth, then was reunited with her 35 yrs later, then passed away, with no will, is the child that was given up considered the next of kin? The woman had listed the daughter as a beneficiary on her bank accounts. The woman also had a living brother.


Asked on 1/29/10, 8:39 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Anthony Smith LawSmith

If the child was adopted, the biological inheritance (in Misosuri) is severed. However, the designation on the bank account should stand (at least in Missouri). There have been soem case wherein a person who died wihtout any children was declared to ahve putatuve children (peopel that they treated as if they wer their kids) and the court allowed them to inherit as if they were the child of the deceased. Those case are extremely rare. In the case you described, either o fthe woman's still living parents woudl inherit the estate. After that, it would probably be her brother and the heirs of her predeceased siblings.

Good luck

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Answered on 2/03/10, 1:31 pm


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