For the purpose of inheritance, there are natural children, **adopted **children, children adopted by estoppel, also called **equitable adoption **and illegitimate children. What do these terms mean?
- Natural childrenare, of course, the children born to the parent.
- Adopted children are children that were adopted by the parent through the legal system.
- "Adoption by estoppel" sometimes called "equitable adoption" or "adoption status" means those children who were **not **adopted through the legal system but are nevertheless recognized by the law as the adopted children of a deceased person. This involves children who were raised by a decedent (someone other than their parents) and there must be a parent child relationship established between the person (the decedent) who raised them and the children. It is legally similar to a common law marriage.
- Illegitimate children are those whose parents were not married.
When a person dies intestateor when they leave a will that makes general references to "my children" or "my heirs," all of the above will inherit. Once the status of "child" is established, it makes no difference whether they are natural children, adpoted children or illegitimate children. Adpotion by estoppel is a little different but they still inherit from the parent. See the discussion of informal adoptions like adoption by estoppel, **equitable adoption **or **adoption status **here.
**By **Robert Ray a Texas inheritance attorney.
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This page is general information about Texas law. It is not legal advice about your situation, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. These matters turn heavily on specific facts and specific dates, and the law has exceptions this page does not cover. You should not take, or refrain from taking, any action based on this page. Discuss your circumstances with an attorney who can advise you on them.