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B-243907 1 (1991-07-26)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadnxk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



          Comptrolier Geoend
          of the United States
          WaiAtoma, D.C, 20648
~Decision





          Matter of: John P. Donohoe, USN (Retired) (Deceased)

          File:       B-243907

          Date:       July 26, 1991


          DICISIOM

          This refers to an appeal by James F. Donohoe of our Claims
          Group's settlement denying his claim for the unpaid retired
          pay due his late brother, John P. Donohoe, USN. Our Claims
          Group concluded that under 10 U.S.C. § 2771 John Donohoe's
          natural children, although adopted by another person, are
          entitled to the unpaid retired pay. The Claims Group's
          settlement is affirmed.

          John P. Donohoe, a resident of Virginia, died there on
          July 28, 1990, apparently intestate. There is no record that
          he had designated a beneficiary to receive the unpaid retired
          pay. The record also shows that Alice Marie Donohoe, John
          Patrick Donohoe, and Michael Wayne Donohoe are the natural
          children of John P. Donohoe and Lottie J. Parleir. Under a
          Final Order of Adoption issued by the Circuit Court of the
          City of Roanoke, Virginia, dated April 90 1979, they were
          adopted by Russell J. Parleir and his wife, Lottie J. Parleir,
          the children's natural mother. Jam3s Donohoe, the decedent's
          brother, paid the funeral expenses. Mr. Donohoe is claiming
          the unpaid retired pay on the basis that if no children are
          entitled to the pay under 10 U.S.C. § 2771, he would receive
          the retired pay under the law of the state where the decedent
          was domiciled. He argues that under Virginia law adoption
          severs any relationship between the child and its biological
          parent.

          Under 10 U.S.C§ 2771, any retired pay Unpaid at the time of
          the member's death is paid to the person highest on a list set
          out in the statute who is living on the date of the member's
          death. That list includes a designated beneficiary, a
          surviving spouse, the member's children and their
          descendants, the member's parents in equal parts or the
          survivor, the member's legal representative, or a person
          entitled under the law of the state where the member is
          domicized.

          Section 63.1-233 of the Virginia code, which deals with
          adoption, provides that adoption severs the parent-child

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