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Simple English definitions for legal terms
degree of kinship
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A quick definition of degree of kinship:
Definition: Degree of kinship refers to how closely related family members are to each other. This is important when someone dies without a will because the state will divide up their things based on how closely related people are. Usually, a spouse and children come first, but if there are no children, then parents and siblings might get some of the things.
A more thorough explanation:
Degree of kinship
Degree of kinship refers to how closely related two family members are. This is important when someone dies without a will because the state will distribute the person's assets based on their degree of kinship. Spouses and children are usually considered closest, followed by parents and siblings.
For example, if someone dies without a will and they have a spouse and children, their assets will go to their spouse and children first because they are the closest degree of kin. If they don't have a spouse or children, their assets will go to their parents and siblings.
Another example is if someone has a distant cousin and no other living relatives, their assets will go to the cousin because they are the closest degree of kin.
These examples illustrate how the degree of kinship determines who inherits someone's assets when they die without a will.