Lalli v. Lalli Case Brief

 Lalli v. Lalli (US 1978)

FACTS: An illegitimate child seeks, through intestate, to inherit his father's estate. Significantly, the father & son had every other aspect of the parent-child relationship.An NY law excludes P from instate succession because he didn't prove paternity during the dad's lifetime. The Sup. Ct. upholds the law.

REASONING:

•The statute promotes the orderly disposition of property.

•The court wants to prevent frauds.

HOLDING
States may not impose an S of L on paternity suits. (Strongly suggested in the ct.'s holding.)