Legal Term: AFFINITY

Definition: A connexion formed by marriage, which places the hushand in the same degree of nominal propinquity to the relations of the wife, as that in which she herself stands towards them, and gives to the wife the same reciprocal connexion with the relations of the hushand. It is used in contradistinction to consanguinity. (q. v.) It is no real kindred.

2. Affinity or alliance is very different from kindred. Kindred are relations. by blood, affinity is the tie which exists between one of the spouses with the kindred of the other, thus, the relations, of my wife, her brothers, her sisters, her uncles, are allied to me by affinity, and my brothers, sistors, &c., are allied in the same way to my wife. But my brother and the sister of my wife are not allied by the ties of affinity: This will appear by the following paradigms

My wife"s father ---| || || -----------------| | |||-- are all allied to me. Ego ----- My Wife0 My wife"s sister ---| || 0 My wife"s niece ---| My wife"s father, ---| My Father | |My brother | | |and my wife"s | | |sister are |---------------| |----------||not allied | | || |to each other My brotherEgo ---- My wife,My wife"s sister, |

3. A person cannot, by legal succession, receive an inheritance from a relation by affinity, neither does it extend to the nearest relations of hushand and wife, so as to create a mutual relation between them. The degrees of affinity are computed in the same way as those of consanguinity. See Pothier, Traite du Mariage, part 3, ch. 3, art. 2, and see 5 M. R. 296, Inst. 1, 10, 6, Dig. 38, 10, 4, 3, 1 Phillim. R. 210, S. C. 1 Eng. Eccl. R. 72, article Marriage.

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