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Simple English definitions for legal terms
degree of kin
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A quick definition of degree of kin:
The degree of kin is a way to measure how closely related two people are in a family. It helps determine who inherits when someone dies without a will. To figure out the degree of kinship, you count how many steps there are between the two people in the family tree. The closer the relationship, the lower the degree of kin. For example, a cousin is in the fourth degree of kinship. The law also uses degrees of kinship to decide who can get married. Some relationships, like siblings, are too close and are not allowed to marry. Finally, a degree can also refer to a title given to someone who has completed their studies at a school or university.
A more thorough explanation:
Degree of kin refers to the measure of removal determining the proximity of a blood or marital relationship in the line of descent. It is used to determine the closest heir in an intestate estate and to establish the incest prohibition in marriage requirements.
- A decedent's cousin stands in the fourth degree of relationship.
- The law forbids marriages between all persons lineally related and within the third civil-law degree of relationship, such as aunt-nephew and uncle-niece relations.
These examples illustrate how degree of kin is used to determine the proximity of a blood or marital relationship and to establish legal prohibitions on marriage.