Legal Document

476 U.S. 852 106 S.Ct. 2234 90 L.Ed.2d 858 Delynda Ann Ricker Barker REED, Appellantv.Princess CAMPBELL, Individually, and as Administratrix of the Estate Prince Rupert Ricker, Deceased. No. 85-755. Argued April 30, 1986. Decided June 11, Rehearing Denied Aug. 19, See 478 1031, 107 11. Syllabus Appellant's father died intestate at a time when § 42 Texas Probate Code prohibited an illegitimate child from inheriting its unless parents had subsequently married. Trimble v. Gordon, 430 762, 97 1459, 52 31, decided four months after father's death, held that total statutory disinheritance, paternal estate, children born out wedlock not legitimated by subsequent marriage their parents, is unconstitutional. Thereafter, appellant filed claim to share in her but it was denied trial court. The Court Appeals affirmed, holding does apply retroactively. Held: interest, protected Fourteenth Amendment, avoiding unjustified discrimination against wedlock, requires appellant's estate be full applicability Trimble. There no justification for State's rejection claim. At claim, been decided, remained open. Neither date death nor should have prevented Those dates, either separately or combination, impact on interest orderly administration estate. Pp. 854-857. 682 S.W.2d 697, reversed remanded. STEVENS, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. R. Stephen McNally, Austin, Tex., appellant. Paul McCollum, Odessa, appellee. Justice STEVENS 1 father, December 22, 1976. time, 38 provided decedent's descend "his descendants,"1 married.2 In 31 (1977)—decided Ricker's death—we this case, nevertheless sharing because retroactively.3 Supreme refused application error, noting "no reversible error." We noted probable jurisdiction, 474 1018, 565, 88 550 (1985), now reverse. 2 * Only few facts need stated. November 1957, mother participated ceremonial marriage, invalid divorce his first wife final. Appellant year later. lawfully married three times, once before twice liaison with mother. He survived five legitimate (two third marriage) 3 Shortly 1976, oldest daughter appointed administratrix still open February 1978, formally notified one-sixth due course, she formal complaint; jury found court concluded he never validly 4 Appeals, contended entitled inherit even if unconstitutional, also various theories. appellate rejected all arguments.4 II 5 Although question presented case framed terms "retroactivity," answer governed rather clear distinction has emerged our cases considering constitutionality provisions impose special burdens children. these cases, we unambiguously State may justify discriminatory treatment illegitimates order express disapproval parents' misconduct.5 have, however, recognized there permissible basis some "distinctions made part legitimacy";6 specifically, upheld evident substantial relation providing just distribution property death. Lalli Lalli, 439 259, 99 518, 58 503 (1978).7 6 state disposition decedents' estates imposition requirements upon who asserts right and, justifies enforcement generally applicable limitations manner which claims asserted. After finally distributed, finality provide additional, valid barring belated assertion claims, though they meritorious mistakes law fact occurred during probate process. find such case. 7 courts relied (1977), were pending 26, 1977—the decided. Winn Lackey, 618 910 (Tex.Civ.App.1981); Lovejoy Lillie, 569 501 (Texas Civ.App.1978). progress date, asserted until Thus, test applied resulted denial conjunction two facts: (1) 1977, (2) 1977. 8 nothing record explain why facts, Trimble, allowance required make decision. governing established: invalid. would served equally well regardless how merits resolved. then, neither any relevant administration; similarly interest. 9 equal Amendment Constitution—more see Mathews Lucas, 427 495, 505, 96 2755, 2762, 49 651 (1976)—should therefore given controlling effect. That claim.8 10 judgment reversed, remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 11 It so ordered. Tex.Prob.Code Ann. 38(a) (Vernon 1980) ("Where person having title . shall die intestate, leaving husband wife, pass parcenary kindred, male female, following course: 1. To descendants ."). 1956) ("For purpose inheritance to, through, child, treated same mother, issue maternal both descendants, ascendants, collaterals degrees, him") (emphasis added). "Under rule [618 (Tex.Civ.App.1981) ] out-of-state cited therein, protection argument fails retroactively where came down suit afterwards." 700 (Tex.App.1984). jurisdictional statement, raised several questions relate legitimation issue. Because hold relief principal appear properly federal questions, brief (presenting only constitutional issue), do reach "It true, legal status illegitimacy, however defined, is, like race national origin, characteristic determined causes within control individual, bears individual's ability participate contribute society. Weber [v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 406 164, 92 1400, 768 (1972) visiting condemnation society's liaisons " 'is illogical unjust. Moreover, imposing disabilities contrary basic concept system bear relationship individual responsibility wrongdoing. Obviously, responsible birth penalizing ineffectual—as unjust—way deterring parent.' U.S., 175, S.Ct., 1407. (Footnote omitted.)" (1976). Ibid. "The presence distinguishes others illegitimacy-based classification absent. E.g., Jimenez Weinberger, 417 628, 94 2496, 41 363 (1974); Gomez Perez, 409 535, 93 872, 35 56 (1973); 170, 1404, (1972); Levy Louisiana, 391 68, 1509, 20 436 (1968)." 268, n. 6, 524, (opinion POWELL, J.). dissenters did believe sufficient support particular statute agreed proposition differential treatment—"New York might require prove paternity elevated standard proof," id., 279, 530 (BRENNAN, dissenting). addition concluding apply, stated "[e]ven plaintiff could under section 42(b) amended, exclusion deny since rational supports legislation." S.W.2d, 700. read alternative ground court's judgment, recovery. assuming amended defeated applied, would, context statute's requirements, raise serious process questions.

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