In Re Estate of Ford

This is an appeal from an order of the probate court denying the claim of appellant Terrold Bean (hereafter Bean) to be the equitably adopted son of decedent Arthur Patrick Ford (hereafter Ford) and hence inherit Ford's intestate estate. We affirm.

In September 1955, Bean, then a little over one year old, was placed in the foster care of Ford and his wife. At the time, the Fords acted as foster parents for many children placed in their care by, mainly, the San Francisco Superior Court. The Fords were paid a monthly stipend by the City and County of San Francisco for their foster care. Bean was one of approximately 10 foster children taken in by the Fords at about the same time.

In early 1958, Bean was judicially freed from his natural mother's care, custody and control and was thus available for adoption. Bean remained as a foster child in the Ford household for approximately 18 years overall. During that period, many other foster children were reunited with their natural parents or adopted, but Bean was never interviewed by any prospective adoptive parents nor was his name placed in the Fords' foster children register. He was also kept in the household even after…