Consanguinity

This term refers to the relationship between people who are descended from the same ancestor, essentially determining the degree of kinship between heirs. This concept plays a crucial role in the distribution of a decedent’s estate, particularly in cases of intestacy, where legal guidelines are necessary to establish inheritance rights based on blood relation. Consanguinity is often organized into degrees or charts, which help outline which relatives may have precedence in inheriting assets when a person dies without a will.