Case Name: ROBERTS v. CAUGHELL et al.
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1953-04-28
Citations: 65 So. 2d 547
Docket Number: 
Parties: ROBERTS v. CAUGHELL et al.
Judges: TERRELL, THOMAS and HOBSON, JJ., and HOCKER, Associate Justice, concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 65
Pages: 547–556

Head Matter:
ROBERTS v. CAUGHELL et al.
Supreme Court of Florida, en Banc.
April 28, 1953.
Rehearing Denied June 23, 1953.
Frank W. Stebbins, Eustis and Richard F. Stevens, Cleveland, Ohio, for appellant.
T. C. Cork, Clermont, for appellees.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Appellees Ruth Ann Caughell and William Charles Caughell are two minor children about fourteen years of age. When they were infants their father Albert L. O'Berry gave them to Charles W. Caughell and his wife Etta Catherine Caughell to raise and educate as their own and to "adopt said minors in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida." Charles W. Caughell died testate June 17, 1945, leaving all of his property to his wife. Etta Catherine Caughell died intestate February 27, 1949, and appellant was appointed ad-ministratrix of her estate.
This suit was brought by appellees against appellant as defendant. The bill of complaint prayed that the Court decree payment of such sums as are essential to the care of said minors, from the estate of Charles W. and Etta Catherine Caughell, and that ' said amount be placed in the hands of Raymond O. Matz and Mary June Matz, their next friends and custodians for their support and maintenance. A motion to dismiss was overruled and this appeal was prosecuted from the final "decree.
The ultimate point for determination is whether or not under the facts revealed, appellees are entitled to participate in the estate of Etta Catherine Caughell, their foster mother, regardless of the point raised as to their legal adoption.
It is shown that appellees were placed in the hands of Charles W. and Etta Catherine Caughell when they were infants for the purpose of adoption and that a contract or agreement was made with their father (their mother being deceased) for that purpose. The agreement was a voluntary one. The Caughells took appellees into their home, changed their names to "Caughell", had them baptized in their faith (Catholic) and brought them up as if they were their own. They are now about fourteen years of age and are well into the formative period of life, if they have not passed it. They know no other parents and so far as the record discloses have been well cared for. The Caughells performed every parental duty and created that mutual love and respect that should exist between parent and child.
An agreement for adoption was unquestionably entered into between the father of the children and the Caughells. It has to all intents and purposes, been carried out. Whether the legal technical requirements have been met may be questionable, but that is not the primary consideration. The important question concerns the welfare of the minor children and whether or not the agreement of the Caughells to bring up the minors properly has been performed. When that is so conclusively shown, as it is here, the minor child is in equity entitled to enforce the agreement with reference to his property rights. The minors in this case were voluntarily surrendered by their father and the adopting father and mother have met every condition contemplated by the agreement to raise and bring up. In other words there has been performance to date, so if it be required that such contracts be in writing to meet the Statute of Frauds (which we do not decide), performance has relieved the present contract of that requirement. Sheffield v. Barry, 153 Fla. 144, 14 So.2d 417; R.C.L. Vol. 1, page 617.
We think the record amply justifies affirmance of the chancellor's decree. Any other answer to the question posed would do an inordinate injustice to the minor children. The decree appealed from is therefor affirmed.
Affirmed.
TERRELL, THOMAS and HOBSON, JJ., and HOCKER, Associate Justice, concur.
ROBERTS, C. J., and SEBRING and MATHEWS, JJ.,' dissent.