Two decades ago, no states had civil unions, let alone marriage for same-sex couples.

But blue-chip lawyers in New York and Connecticut nevertheless suggested a recipe for romantic and economic happiness for an IBM heiress and her longtime female lover: They should get an adult adoption.

But what started as an outside-the box way to formalize a relationship has turned into a long-running court battle over the potential inheritance of $10 million or more.

The legal battle stretches from the islands of Maine to the Gold Coast of Connecticut. It has involved probate courts in both states and, most recently, the

Supreme Court of Maine. The last chapter has yet to be written, with an appeal of a probate decision scheduled for October in Stamford Superior Court.

The story starts with Olive Watson, now 61, who is the granddaughter of IBM founder Thomas Watson and the daughter of Thomas Watson Jr., of Greenwich, who ran the legendary business for decades and amassed a large fortune before his death in 1993.

Read the full article