Question: What would have been the legal status of Widow Winship's unborn baby if the Horseman hadn't killed her or the baby?
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Answer: Van Garrett amended his will naming the widow Winship as his beneficiary, so had the child been born, she likely would have been the heir apparent of the widow.
Phaneron ★
But, what would the legal status of the baby be?
They were married in secret before they were killed, so the baby would have been legitimate.
Legal as in what? If she's born on U.S. soil and her mother lives as well, then she's a protected citizen entitled to her father's name and whatever rights a female would have been granted by the U.S. Constitution at the time. If the mother dies, she presumably becomes a ward of the state until someone adopts her.
Phaneron ★
Not sure why I decreed the baby to be female as I don't think the film ever specified its gender, but the same basic things would apply to a male baby as well, possibly even more so since men had more rights back then.
Phaneron ★