Bastard

(bastard.) [Fr. bâtard.] (Law.) A child begotten and born out of wedlock. By the common law of England, a B. cannot take real or personal estate as the heir of either parent, nor has he even the name of the father or mother, but may a ume it or any other name, and is known in law only by such a umed or reputed name. Contrary to the common-law rule, an ante-nuptial child is legitimated by the subsequent marriage of his parents, and by being acknowledged by his father, in the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Indiana, Alabama, Mi ouri, Mi i ippi, Maryland, Kentucky, and Tenne ee. In many of the States, an illegitimate child may take by inheritance as heir or next of kin of the mother, with limitation, however, in some of the States, to the case of her having no legitimate children. [s. 77]