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256 Ga. 291

Coplin v. Broadnax

Supreme Court of Georgia

Decided September 18, 1986

Supreme Court of Georgia · decided 1986-09-18

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1996

1 state decisions

Relies on Prince v. Black

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1986-09-18

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Weltner, Justice.

¶1Cirtus Coplin sought to be declared an heir-at-law of Jasper Coplin, as his natural son and through virtual adoption. The trial court granted a summary judgment to other heirs-at-law of Jasper Coplin.

¶2While this appeal was pending, we published the opinion in Prince v. Black, 256 Ga. 79 (344 SE2d 411) (1986). There we held that a child born out of wedlock may share in his natural father’s estate, as an heir-at-law, in the same manner as children born of wedlock, provided that there is clear and convincing evidence that the child is the natural child of the father, and that the father intended for the child to share in his estate.

¶3Thus we reverse the grant of summary judgment, and remand to the trial court for a factual determination of whether Cirtus Coplin has met the standard for virtual or equitable legitimation as outlined in Prince v. Black, supra.

¶4Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur.
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