Legal Definitions - blood relative

A blood relative refers to an individual who shares a biological connection through common ancestry. This means they are related by birth, sharing genetic material, rather than solely through marriage (such as in-laws) or adoption. In legal contexts, this distinction can be important for matters like inheritance, family law, and determining prohibited relationships.

• Example 1: Inheritance and Wills

  A person's will states that if their spouse and children predecease them, their estate should be divided among their "closest living blood relatives." In this scenario, the court would identify individuals like siblings, nieces, nephews, or cousins who share a direct biological lineage with the deceased, excluding any relatives by marriage (like a sister-in-law) or adopted individuals unless they were specifically named elsewhere in the will.

  This example illustrates how "blood relative" specifies a biological connection for the purpose of inheriting assets, ensuring that only those with a shared genetic link to the deceased are considered beneficiaries under that particular clause.

• Example 2: Medical History and Genetic Predisposition

  During a medical consultation, a doctor asks a patient about any history of heart disease, diabetes, or certain cancers among their "blood relatives." The patient then provides information about their parents, grandparents, and siblings, but not their spouse's family or their adopted children's biological parents.

  This demonstrates the term's use in identifying individuals who share genetic material, as inherited medical conditions are passed down through biological lineage. The doctor is interested in the patient's biological family history to assess potential genetic risks.

• Example 3: Family Law and Prohibited Marriages

  Many jurisdictions have laws that prohibit marriage between individuals who are considered close "blood relatives," such as siblings, parents and children, or first cousins. For instance, a state law might explicitly forbid marriage between a brother and sister, even if they were raised separately and did not know each other.

  Here, "blood relative" defines relationships that are legally forbidden from marriage due to close biological ties, often to prevent genetic issues in offspring and uphold societal norms regarding familial relationships.