Legal Definitions - stranger in blood

The term "stranger in blood" refers to an individual who is not a direct biological relative. This legal concept is often used to distinguish between people who share a genetic connection (like parents, children, or siblings) and those who do not, even if they are closely related by marriage or have a deep personal bond.

In legal contexts, particularly concerning inheritance, taxes, or property transfers, this distinction can be significant. While a person might be a relative by marriage (an "in-law") or a very close friend, they are still considered a "stranger in blood" from a legal perspective if there is no direct biological link to the individual in question.

• Example 1: Inheritance and Stepchildren

  A woman passes away, leaving a significant portion of her estate to her stepson, whom she raised from infancy. Although she loved him as her own child, legally, her stepson is considered a "stranger in blood" to her because there is no biological relationship. This distinction could be relevant if, for instance, the will contained specific provisions or tax implications that applied differently to "blood descendants" versus other beneficiaries.

• Example 2: Property Transfer Taxes

  A man decides to sell a vacation home to his long-time business partner at a price significantly below market value. In some jurisdictions, the transfer of property to a "stranger in blood" (such as a business partner or even a cousin beyond a certain degree of kinship) might incur higher gift taxes or property transfer fees compared to transferring the same property to a direct biological child or spouse. The business partner, despite a close professional and personal relationship, lacks a direct genetic link to the seller.

• Example 3: Trust Beneficiaries

  An individual establishes a family trust specifying that its assets are to be distributed exclusively among their "lineal biological descendants." If the trustee later considers distributing funds to the individual's spouse's niece, that niece would be classified as a "stranger in blood" in the context of the trust's terms. Even though she is related by marriage to the individual's spouse, she shares no biological connection with the person who created the trust and therefore would not qualify as a "lineal biological descendant."