Hood v. McGehee, 237 U.S. 611 (1915)

Hood v. McGehee

No. 281

Submitted May 13, 1915
Decided June 1, 1915
237 U.S. 611

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

A state may in its statute of descent exclude children adopted by proceedings in other states, as Alabama has done, without violating any federal right.

The construction of a contract of adoption as complying with the law of the state where made, but as not giving any rights in the state where the property is situated because the law of descent of the latter state excludes children adopted in any other state, does not deny the adoption full faith and credit.

An adoption, although good in the state where made, cannot acquire a greater scope in other states than their laws give to it by reason of the adoptors’ expectation that it will be effective in other states. 199 F. 989, affirmed.

The facts, which involve the construction of an instrument of adoption and the question of whether full faith and credit was given thereto in an action in another state, are stated in the opinion.