Which statement about adopted children and class gifts is true?

• A. Adopted children are included in the definition of issue.
• B. Adopted-out children never participate in class gifts.
• C. Adopted-out children must be specifically named to participate.
• D. Adopted children are excluded from any class that mentions 'issue'.

Answer: (A)

Adopted children are included in the definition of issue. In inheritance terms, “issue” means lineal descendants, and in modern practice that includes adopted children because adoption creates a legal parent-child relationship that places the adoptee in the same line of descent as biological children for purposes of gifts and inheritance. So a class gift phrased to go to the testator’s issue will cover adopted children unless the instrument says something explicit to restrict to blood descendants (for example, by stating “blood issue only”). This is why the statement about adopted children being included is true. The other options imply exclusions or special naming requirements that aren’t the default interpretation when “issue” is used.