Millionaire, 48, Adopts Girlfriend, 42, As His Daughter

man adopts girlfriend as daughterFlorida multimillionaire John Goodman, 48, has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend, Heather Laruso Hutchins, as his daughter to help protect his family fortune. Sounds like a plot straight out of Y&R but nope, this is real life, people. And it’s gross. Of course, there’s no actual incest going on here, but the mere thought of a woman being the same person’s girlfriend and daughter if only on paper is cringe-worthy.

Goodman, founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach, decided to adopt his girlfriend because he’s in hot water over a drunk driving incident. Back in February 2010, he ran a stop sign, killing 23-year-old Scott Patrick Wilson in the process. Goodman, who police say was drunk, fled the scene. He’s now facing criminal charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash.

Wilson’s parents are suing Goodman, and so most people figure the sketchy adoption is intended to protect Goodman’s two children’s trust, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions. As his legal third child, Hutchins is now entitled to a third of the beneficiary interest in the trust. And, because she’s over the age of 35, she’ll be able to receive her share immediately. (In case you’re wondering, they’ve been dating since 2009.)

One of Goodman’s attorneys told CBS News that his client adopted Hutchins “for estate planning purposes and to ensure protection of both his and her minor children and the stability of all the family investments.”

Elisha Roy, a West Palm Beach attorney and treasurer of the State Bar’s Family Law section, said estate planning is typically a normal reason for adult adoptions, but that adopting a significant other is very rare. It’s not difficult to see why. For starters, how is this even allowed legally? It’s certainly a grey area. And let me just say, this case gives whole new meaning to the term “sugar daddy.”

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