When may non-marital children inherit from their father?

Non-marital children, or children born outside of marriage, have the right to inherit from their father under certain conditions. The key to their inheritance rights often involves establishing paternity.

Acknowledgment by a father during his lifetime can serve as proof of paternity, allowing a non-marital child to inherit. If a father openly recognizes his child and acknowledges the relationship, that acknowledgment can be sufficient for inheritance rights.

Additionally, a paternity suit serves as a legal means to establish the father-child relationship, enabling a non-marital child to claim inheritance rights. This formal judicial process can affirm a child's status and ensure their rights to inheritance are protected.

Moreover, even after a father's death, it is possible for a non-marital child to inherit if paternity is established posthumously. This often requires evidence that satisfies the legal standards for proving paternity, which can vary by jurisdiction.

The presence of multiple avenues—acknowledgment during life, establishment through a paternity suit, and proof after death—demonstrates that non-marital children may have legitimate paths to inheritance from their father, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their rights in estate planning. Thus, all the options collectively illustrate the various contexts in which non-marital children can inherit