Legal Definitions - full blood

The term full blood refers to a familial relationship where two individuals share both biological parents. This concept is primarily used in legal contexts, particularly in inheritance law (known as intestate succession) and sometimes in specific areas of family law, to distinguish between relatives who share both parents and those who share only one parent (known as "half-blood" relatives).

The distinction can be crucial because, in some jurisdictions, the law may treat full-blood relatives differently from half-blood relatives when determining who inherits property or assets when a person dies without a will.

• Example 1: Inheritance Among Siblings

  Imagine a situation where Mr. Chen passes away without leaving a will. He has no spouse or children, and his parents are also deceased. His only living relatives are his sister, Lisa, and his half-brother, Mark. Lisa is Mr. Chen's full-blood sister, meaning they share both their mother and father. Mark is Mr. Chen's half-brother, sharing only their mother. In some states, the law might specify that full-blood siblings inherit before half-blood siblings, or that full-blood siblings receive a larger share of the estate.

  This example illustrates how the "full blood" relationship between Mr. Chen and Lisa could legally impact the distribution of his estate, potentially giving Lisa priority or a greater share over Mark, who is only a half-blood relative.

• Example 2: Inheritance Among Collateral Relatives

  Consider Ms. Rodriguez, who dies without a will, and has no spouse, children, parents, or siblings. Her estate would then pass to more distant relatives. She has an aunt, Maria, who is her mother's full-blood sister (meaning Maria shares both parents with Ms. Rodriguez's mother). She also has an uncle, David, who is her father's half-brother (meaning David shares only one parent with Ms. Rodriguez's father). In certain legal systems, when the line of succession extends to aunts and uncles, the law might give preference to the descendants of full-blood relatives over those of half-blood relatives.

  This example demonstrates that the "full blood" distinction can extend beyond immediate siblings to more distant collateral relatives like aunts and uncles, influencing the order or proportion of inheritance when closer relatives are absent.