The Michigan Supreme Court says children conceived with frozen sperm from a deceased man can't be considered his heirs.
The decision Friday means two Kalamazoo-area siblings won't be collecting Social Security benefits that typically go to minor children of the deceased.
Pam Mattison of Portage is suing the Social Security Administration for benefits for her twins, who are 11. The children were conceived through artificial insemination in 2001 after her husband, Jeff Mattison, died.
A federal judge asked the state Supreme Court for its opinion of Michigan estate law. The court says the children can't be considered heirs because they weren't alive when Jeff Mattison died nor was their mother pregnant at that time.
Justices Marilyn Kelly and Michael Cavanagh say the Legislature should change the law.
