Legal Definitions - posteriores

Posteriores refers to individuals who are direct descendants of a person, but are very far down the family line—specifically, beyond the sixth generation. In simpler terms, these are the children of a great-great-great-great-grandchild, or even further removed in the direct lineage. This term originated in Roman law, where such distant lineage could sometimes be relevant for matters like inheritance or determining family lines.

• Example 1: A Complex Inheritance Dispute

  Imagine a very old will from a prominent family, dating back many generations. A dispute arises over a forgotten asset, and several individuals claim to be the rightful heirs. If one claimant can prove they are the great-great-great-great-great-grandchild (which is the seventh degree of direct descent) of the original person who wrote the will, they would be considered among the posteriores relative to that ancestor. Their claim would hinge on establishing this very distant, direct familial connection.

• Example 2: Tracing Ancient Lineage

  A genealogist is meticulously researching their family history, attempting to connect their lineage to a historical figure who lived many centuries ago. After extensive research, they successfully trace their direct family line back ten generations to this individual. All descendants identified beyond the sixth generation from that historical figure, including the genealogist themselves if they are in the seventh generation or further, would be classified as posteriores in relation to that ancient ancestor.

• Example 3: Historical Property Claims

  In a region with deeply rooted historical land ownership, a family attempts to assert a claim to a piece of property based on an ancestor who owned it centuries ago. If the current claimants are able to demonstrate they are, for example, the eighth generation of direct descendants from the original owner, their relationship to that original owner would be described as posteriores. This highlights their very distant, yet direct, connection to the property's historical owner.