Legal Definitions - entire blood

Entire blood refers to a familial relationship where two individuals share both biological parents. This term is primarily used in legal contexts, especially concerning inheritance, succession, or determining kinship, to distinguish between relatives who share both parents and those who share only one parent (often referred to as "half-blood" relatives).

• Example 1: Inheritance Without a Will

  Imagine a situation where an individual passes away without a will, leaving behind an estate. The deceased has a brother, John, who shares both parents with him, and a half-sister, Sarah, who shares only their mother. If the applicable state law prioritizes relatives of "entire blood" in intestacy (dying without a will), John, as a full sibling, might have a stronger or exclusive claim to inherit the estate compared to Sarah. This is because John is considered a relative of "entire blood" to the deceased, while Sarah is not.

• Example 2: Specific Bequest in a Will

  Consider a will that includes a clause stating, "I bequeath my antique watch collection to my nephews of entire blood." In this scenario, only the sons of the testator's full siblings (those who share both parents with the testator) would be eligible to receive the watch collection. Any nephews who are children of a half-sibling of the testator would be excluded from this specific bequest, as they do not meet the "entire blood" criterion specified in the will.

• Example 3: Determining Guardianship

  A court is tasked with appointing a guardian for a minor child whose parents have both passed away. Among the potential relatives being considered are the child's paternal uncle (the deceased father's brother) and a maternal half-aunt (the deceased mother's half-sister). The court might give preference to the paternal uncle, who is an "entire blood" relative to the child's father, as this signifies a direct and complete genetic link through one of the child's parents. This close familial connection, often associated with "entire blood" relationships, can be a factor in assessing the most suitable and stable environment for the child's upbringing.