Family law and inheritance in america a social and legal history of nineteenth century kentucky yvonne pitts purdue university pages cm cambridge historical studies in american law and society. Yvonne pitts explores inheritance practices by focusing on nineteenth century testamentary capacity trials in kentucky in which disinherited family members challenged relatives wills these disappointed heirs claimed that their departed relative lacked the capacity required to write a valid will these inheritance disputes criss crossed a variety of legal and cultural terrains including . Family law and inheritance in america is an excellent example of the new legal history that brings law and legal culture alive through the experiences of average people who for better or for worse found themselves and their lives recast through the prism of nineteenth century courts and legal categories. Family law and inheritance in america is an excellent example of the new legal history that brings law and legal culture alive through the experiences of average people who for better or for worse found themselves and their lives recast through the prism of nineteenth century courts and legal categories. Family law and inheritance in america is an excellent example of the new legal history that brings law and legal culture alive through the experiences of average people who for better or for worse found themselves and their lives recast through the prism of nineteenth century courts and legal categories