Austin Probate Lawyer

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals ruled last week that a lower court’s decision denying the paternity suit of an Alabama man was correct. Steven Swafford, of Cleburne County, had filed suit to be declared the biological son of Ruben Myers and claim a share of the deceased man’s estate, estimated at $5 million. The appeals court ruling is yet another setback for his case.

Although DNA testing indicated that Swafford may be biologically linked to Myers, a finding corroborated by Myers’ mother, the lower court ruled that, because neither Swafford nor Myers had sought to establish a relationship before Myers’ death, Swafford had no legal standing to sue for a declaration of paternity.

Swafford has not yet decided whether to appeal his case to the Alabama Supreme Court.

Inheritance can be a very tricky issue to deal with. Contact an Austin inheritance dispute lawyer from Slater & Kennon, L.L.P., by calling 512-472-2431 today.