In the case of Alexis Lawrence, guardian and next friend on behalf of Kemmerlyn D. Lawrence, a minor v. Shirley S. Chater, Commissioner of Social Security in 1995, the Supreme Court was asked to consider whether or not a child who is conceived after the death of her father but born within nine months can qualify for survivor's benefits under social security law. The court ruled that such children are eligible for benefits if they meet state inheritance laws where their deceased parent lived at time of death; this includes cases where posthumous conception occurred through artificial insemination with stored sperm from deceased father. This ruling clarified an area previously left ambiguous by existing legislation and set precedent for future similar cases.

The case does not provide information on a dissenting opinion. The Supreme Court's decision was unanimous, and no justice issued a dissenting opinion.