Broderson

This is an appeal by all of the defendants except defendant Johansen, from a judgment in favor of the State of California in an action in equity to set aside a probate decree determining heirship.

These are the facts: George E. Turkington and Vivian H. Turkington were husband and wife. They had no children. During their marriage they accumulated community property. George died intestate in 1954. The community property was distributed to Vivian. (Prob. Code, § 201. ) George was survived by two sisters, Isabel B. Broderson and Helen E. Rosecrans, a brother, John 0. Turkington, and a niece, Rosemary Reszel (daughter of a deceased sister), all of whom were defendants in the trial court, and are appellants here.

Vivian died intestate in 1960, without known heirs. Defendant Johansen, the public administrator, was appointed her personal representative.

Defendant Gordon L. Cox, doing business as W. C. Cox & Company, is in the “probate research’’ business. He contacted appellant heirs and obtained an assignment of a portion of their interest in Vivian’s estate. He hired an attorney to represent them. The attorney filed a petition to determine heirship. (§1080.) The petition alleged…