Legal Definitions - generation

In a legal context, a generation refers to a distinct level or stage in a family's direct line of descent. It can also describe the average period of time, typically 20 to 30 years, between the birth of parents and the birth of their children, representing a successive group of individuals.

• Example 1 (Lineage): Imagine a wealthy individual creates a trust fund specifically for their grandchildren. In this scenario, the grandchildren represent a distinct generation, being one step removed in direct descent from the individual's own children. The legal document establishing the trust would clearly define this specific group of beneficiaries by their generational relationship.

• Example 2 (Time Span and Succession): A community group is advocating for a new policy to address a local issue, stating that the problem has negatively impacted residents for "three generations." Here, "three generations" signifies a substantial period of time, roughly 60-90 years, during which successive groups of people within the community have experienced the issue. It highlights the long-term impact across different age cohorts.

• Example 3 (Estate Planning): A will might specify that if a primary beneficiary (e.g., a child of the deceased) is no longer living, their share of the estate should pass to their direct descendants "by representation." This legal instruction requires identifying the next generation in that specific family branch (the deceased child's children, who are the testator's grandchildren) to ensure the inheritance follows the intended line of succession.