Legal Definitions - full cousin

A full cousin refers to an individual who shares a complete set of grandparents with another person. This means that their respective parents are full siblings (i.e., they share both parents). In everyday language, this term is often used interchangeably with "first cousin." It distinguishes these relatives from half-cousins (who share only one grandparent) or more distant cousins.

• Example 1: Estate Planning
  When drafting a will, an individual might specify beneficiaries beyond their immediate family. For instance, a will could state, "I bequeath $50,000 to be divided equally among my full cousins." This legal phrasing ensures that the inheritance is distributed only to those individuals whose parents are full siblings of the testator's parents, thereby sharing both sets of grandparents with the testator, and excluding more distant relatives or those who might only share one grandparent.

• Example 2: Family Medical History
  During a medical consultation, a doctor might inquire about a patient's family history of certain health conditions. A patient might respond, "My mother's sister's children, my full cousins, have a history of a specific genetic condition, but my father's side of the family does not." By specifying "full cousins," the patient is referring to individuals who share a common set of grandparents (in this case, maternal grandparents), which is crucial information for assessing potential genetic predispositions within the immediate extended family.

• Example 3: Genealogy and Family Trees
  When constructing a detailed family tree or discussing ancestral lineage, individuals often categorize relationships precisely. For example, a genealogist might note, "John and Mary are full cousins because John's mother and Mary's father are siblings, both being children of Robert and Eleanor Smith." This clarifies that John and Mary share Robert and Eleanor Smith as their common grandparents, establishing their relationship as full cousins within the family structure.