Court Opinion

ID: 9659857
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:56:14.187907+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:12.211969
License: Public Domain

ZASTROW, Justice
(dissenting).
I find that the cases cited by the majority in support of the legitimation of T. T. G. by constructive receipt are not applicable to the situation presented here. Those cases deal with situations where the courts have found legitimation in order to establish inheritance rights or insurance benefits. Each involved situations where it was physically impossible for the natural father to receive the child into his home.1
*385In none of the cases does it appear that the natural mother would have objected to legitimation. In South Dakota, a natural father can secure the right of inheritance for his illegitimate child by following the procedure of written acknowledgment without receipt into the family under SDCL 29-1 — 15. While it is true that receipt into the family is liberally construed, most states still require that there be some receipt. 10 Am.Jur.2d, Bastards, § 55; An-not. 33 A.L.R.2d, § 21, at 748.
The common law of the states and South Dakota, by statute (SDCL 25-5-10), creates a preference to the natural mother for custody of the illegitimate child. That preference is not absolute, nor is it exclusive. The natural father does have recognized legal rights in the child. Stanley v. Illinois, 1972, 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551. He is entitled to visitation rights so long as he has acknowledged paternity, provided reasonable financial support for the child, and has shown a genuine interest in the child. This right to visitation will be withheld under those circumstances only if it is shown that such visits would be detrimental to the best interests of the child. See Annot., 15 A.L.R.3d 887, “Right of Putative Father to Visit Illegitimate Child.”
The natural father does have a right to custody of the illegitimate child superior to all but the mother. He may enforce his right to custody by demonstrating that the natural mother (1) is unfit or unsuitable to have custody of the child, (2) has abandoned or permanently relinquished the child, (3) has neglected, mistreated, or abused the child, (4) has conducted herself in a manner detrimental to the welfare of the child, or (5) has failed to provide the necessities of life for the child.2 Of course, the natural father must show that he is a fit and proper person to have custody and has not committed any of these same actions.
Habeas corpus is an available procedure to challenge custody of an illegitimate child. In this situation the application sufficiently stated a legal basis for the writ by alleging that the natural mother is “not a fit and proper person,” has “failed to provide proper parental care” and “surrendered care and responsibility,” and has “failed to contribute financial support” for the child. The application recites the father’s public acknowledgment of paternity, financial support, and genuine concern for the child. Such factual allegations are sufficient to warrant the issuance of the writ under the equitable powers of the court. Application of Habeck, 1955, 75 S.D. 535, 69 N.W.2d 353; Nannestad v. Nannestad, 1921, 44 S.D. 241, 183 N.W. 541.
Under the principles, stated, I would reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings to determine the visitation rights of the petitioner. Although the trial court did find the mother unfit, in its memorandum decision it is stated that the mother has “established a life pattern of immoral sex,” “alcoholism” and “will continue as a perennial welfare recipient.” Finding of fact XIII finds specifically that the mother “has never been gainfully employed.” The findings, of fact emphasize that the mother is again pregnant, although still not married.
The emphasis by the court upon these areas of the mother’s life requires further evaluation under the principles that were apparently overlooked by the trial court.
If the mother is otherwise suitable, her right to custody of her illegitimate child is not to be denied because the natural father is better able to provide the material advantages for the child. So long as the mother can provide the necessities of life and is otherwise providing a suitable home for the child, the father’s superior income 5 only important in determining how much support he should be contributing.
The findings of the trial court that the mother has established a pattern of immoral conduct are apparently based upon the birth of T. T. G. and the current pregnancy of M. G. without the benefit of marriage. *386It is sufficient to state that the mother is not to be deprived of the custody of an illegitimate child merely because she has been guilty of illicit conduct following the birth of the baby, unless her conduct is such that it demonstrates her unfitness to raise the child or is detrimental to the best interests of the child. Hershey v. Hershey, 1970, 85 S.D. 58, 177 N.W.2d 267.
In this case the petitioner apparently found the moral conduct of the mother quite acceptable and was desirous of marrying her after the birth of the child. Testimony concerning her conduct since that time shows that she has a new boyfriend by whom she is pregnant and who she intends to marry. Her conduct does not appear to be any less moral than the petitioner, but for the fact that she is pregnant and the petitioner is not.
The question of the “alcoholism” of the mother highlights another principle which should be considered, i. e., the fitness of the mother is to be determined at the time of the hearing and not past conduct which is no longer continuing. Admittedly, the mother has displayed some past conduct which is certainly indefensible; however, the testimony shows that that conduct was not occurring at the time of the hearing. In fact, the trial court apparently found the living conditions and conduct of the mother sufficient to leave T. T. G. in her custody pending this appeal.
Certainly both the mother and father have shown past conduct which is less than admirable; however, the,.custody of T. T. G. should be based upon present considerations. Just as the petitioner has conformed his life style to a more acceptable level, the mother should also be judged on her present conduct which she is attempting to improve.
I am authorized to state that Justice WOLLMAÑ joins in this dissent.

. In Blythe v. Ayres, 96 Cal. 532, 31 P. 915, the child lived in England and the father lived in California in the 1890’s, a period when travel conditions would have prevented easy access. In Rodriguez v. Rodriguez, D.C.N.D.Cal., 329 F.Supp. 597, the father, who was prevented from marrying the mother because of the refusal of his parents to give permission, was killed in Viet Nam. In Moreno v. Richardson, 1973, 9 Cir., 484 F.2d 899, an action for social security benefits, the father had not received the child into his family because the “requirements” of the welfare department prevented him from doing so.

. The various cases involving these situations are collected in the Annotations, “Right of mother to custody of illegitimate child,” at 98 A.L.R.2d 417; “Right of Putative Father to Custody of Illegitimate Child,” at 45 A.L.R.3d 216.