O'Neal v. Wilkes
Supreme Court of Georgia
439 S.E.2d 490 (1994)
Relevant factsFree
O'Neal, born out of wedlock and never claimed by her biological father, was passed among relatives before her father's sister, Estelle Page, offered her for adoption to Roswell Cook, who raised her as his daughter without ever formally adopting her; when Cook died intestate, the estate administrator refused to treat O'Neal as an heir, and she sought equitable recognition of a virtual adoption.
IssueFree
Whether, under Georgia law, a court may recognize a contract for adoption entered into by a non-parent relative who has physical custody but is not a legally appointed guardian of the child.