No elected Judge would ever grant this adoption if he knew all the facts. The adoption should be reversed based on fraud.
The game is still in play..... what if after the money disbursement she files for emancipation and then marries her, Money back free of inheritance tax.
If I’m reading this correctly, the money in the children’s Trust is untouchable in the civil case. By adopting the 42-year old and giving her 1/3 of the Trust, he’s really only taking money from his children. His assets (those not in the Trust) are up for grabs in the civil suit. I guess his kids could be pissed, but hell, it was his money in the first place.