Legal Definitions - third cousin

A third cousin refers to two individuals who share a common great-great-grandparent. To put it another way, their parents are second cousins, their grandparents are first cousins, and their great-grandparents were siblings. This relationship signifies a relatively distant familial connection, tracing back several generations to a shared set of ancestors.

• Example 1: Family Tree Research

  Sarah is researching her family history and discovers that her great-great-grandparents, Arthur and Beatrice, also had a child named Charles. Charles is the great-great-grandparent of a woman named Emily, whom Sarah met at a local historical society meeting.

  Explanation: Because Sarah and Emily both descend from the same great-great-grandparents (Arthur and Beatrice), they are considered third cousins. Their respective great-grandparents were siblings, their grandparents were first cousins, and their parents were second cousins.

• Example 2: Unexpected Connection

  Mark and Lisa attend the same university and become friends. One day, while discussing their family backgrounds, they realize that both of their families have a strong oral tradition about a pioneering couple named Thomas and Eleanor who settled in the region in the 1800s. After some investigation, they confirm that Thomas and Eleanor are the great-great-grandparents of both Mark and Lisa.

  Explanation: Mark and Lisa are third cousins because they share Thomas and Eleanor as their common great-great-grandparents. This means their family lines diverged after that generation, with their great-grandparents being siblings, their grandparents being first cousins, and their parents being second cousins.

• Example 3: Estate Planning and Distant Relatives

  An elderly individual, Mr. Henderson, passes away without a spouse or children. His will specifies that if no closer relatives can be found, his estate should be divided among his "closest living third cousins." A genealogist is hired to trace his family tree and identifies several individuals who share Mr. Henderson's great-great-grandparents, the Millers.

  Explanation: The individuals identified by the genealogist are Mr. Henderson's third cousins because they all share the same great-great-grandparents (the Millers). This familial link, though distant, becomes legally significant in the context of Mr. Henderson's will, as these individuals are the beneficiaries designated by the term "third cousins."