LANKFORD v. WRIGHT

No. 308PA96.

489 S.E.2d 604 (1997)

Barbara Ann Newton LANKFORD v. Thomas H. WRIGHT and Thelma Irene White, Administrators of the Estate of Lula Newton; Thomas H. Wright, Individually; Thelma Irene White, Individually; William Paul Wright; Jay Cornelius Knight, Jr.; James Robert Coffey; and Patricia Coffey Northern Coates.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

September 5, 1997.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Baucom, Claytor, Benton, Morgan, Wood & White, P.A. by James F. Wood, III; and Charles M. Welling, Charlotte, for plaintiff-appellant.

Di Santi & Watson by Anthony S. di Santi, Boone, for defendants-appellees.


FRYE, Justice.

The sole issue in this case is whether North Carolina recognizes the doctrine of equitable adoption. We hold that the doctrine should be recognized in this state, and therefore, we reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals.

Plaintiff, Barbara Ann Newton Lankford, was born to Mary M. Winebarger on 15 January 1944. When plaintiff was a child, her natural mother entered into an agreement with her neighbors, Clarence and Lula Newton, whereby...

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