Legal Definitions - affinity

Affinity refers to the legal relationship that exists between one spouse and the blood relatives of the other spouse. This connection is created solely through marriage, not by shared ancestry or bloodline. It is distinct from a blood relationship (known as consanguinity).

It's important to understand that affinity does not create a relationship between the blood relatives of one spouse and the blood relatives of the other spouse. For instance, a husband's brother and a wife's sister are not related to each other by affinity.

• Example 1: After their wedding, Maria's husband, Carlos, becomes related by affinity to Maria's parents and siblings. Maria's mother is Carlos's mother-in-law, and her sister is his sister-in-law.

  Explanation: Carlos is connected to Maria's blood relatives (her mother and sister) through his marriage to Maria. This relationship is based on affinity.

• Example 2: When Liam marries Chloe, Chloe establishes a relationship of affinity with Liam's father, who becomes her father-in-law, and Liam's brother, who becomes her brother-in-law.

  Explanation: Chloe is related by affinity to Liam's father and brother because they are Liam's blood relatives, and her connection to them is formed through her marriage to Liam.

• Example 3: Consider a married couple, Sarah and Tom. Sarah's uncle (her mother's brother) and Tom's niece (his sister's daughter) are not related to each other by affinity, even though both individuals are related to the married couple.

  Explanation: Affinity specifically connects a spouse to the *blood relatives of their partner*. It does not create a direct relationship between Sarah's blood relatives and Tom's blood relatives. Sarah's uncle is related to Sarah by blood, and Tom's niece is related to Tom by blood, but there is no affinity between Sarah's uncle and Tom's niece themselves.