Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Trimble v. Gordon
United States Supreme Court
430 U.S. 762 (1977)
A man had a daughter, but never married his daughter's mother. When he died without a will, one state needed to separate from a discriminatory inheritance law in Trimble versus Gordon.
Jesse Trimble and Sherman Gordon weren't married and had a daughter, Dita.
A paternity test as part of a child support case confirmed Dita was Sherman's daughter, and Sherman acknowledged her as his child. Then Sherman died without a will.
Trimble, acting on her minor daughter's behalf, filed a petition with the probate court.
At the time, section twelve of the Illinois probate act prohibited illegitimate children from inheriting from their fathers.
Under the section, children whose parents were never married to one another were illegitimate.
The court identified Sherman's parents and siblings as heirs excluding Dita.
Without the section, Dita would have inherited Sherman's entire estate.
Trimble noticed her appeal, and the Illinois Supreme Court permitted direct appeal skipping the Illinois appellate court.
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Get more case briefs explained with Quimbee. Quimbee has over 42,700 case briefs (and counting) keyed to 988 casebooks ► quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Trimble v. Gordon
United States Supreme Court
430 U.S. 762 (1977)
A man had a daughter, but never married his daughter's mother. When he died without a will, one state needed to separate from a discriminatory inheritance law in Trimble versus Gordon.
Jesse Trimble and Sherman Gordon weren't married and had a daughter, Dita.
A paternity test as part of a child support case confirmed Dita was Sherman's daughter, and Sherman acknowledged her as his child. Then Sherman died without a will.
Trimble, acting on her minor daughter's behalf, filed a petition with the probate court.
At the time, section twelve of the Illinois probate act prohibited illegitimate children from inheriting from their fathers.
Under the section, children whose parents were never married to one another were illegitimate.
The court identified Sherman's parents and siblings as heirs excluding Dita.
Without the section, Dita would have inherited Sherman's entire estate.
Trimble noticed her appeal, and the Illinois Supreme Court permitted direct appeal skipping the Illinois appellate court.
Want more details on this case? Get the rule of law, issues, holding and reasonings, and more case facts here: quimbee.com/cases/trimble-v-gordon
The Quimbee App features over 42,700 case briefs keyed to 988 casebooks. Try it free for 7 days! ► quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Have Questions about this Case? Submit your questions and get answers from a real attorney here: quimbee.com/cases/trimble-v-gordon
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