Lalli v. Lalli
United States Supreme Court
439 U.S. 259 (1978)

- Written by Richard Lavigne, JD
Facts
Robert Lalli (plaintiff) was the illegitimate son of Mario Lalli, who died intestate. No judicial determination of paternity had been made at the time of the father’s death. New York probate law would not recognize Lalli as his father’s legal heir because a provision of state law conditioned inheritance rights upon the issuance of a court order establishing paternity. Lalli petitioned the United States Supreme Court for review of a decision by the Court of Appeals of New York.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Powell, J.)
Concurrence (Blackmun, J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
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