Which term refers to the blood relationship of the heirs?

• A. Lineal descendants
• B. Community property
• C. Degree of consanguinity or degree of kinship
• D. Prenuptial agreement

Answer: (C)

Understanding how closely people are related by blood is captured by the degree of consanguinity, also called the degree of kinship. This measure tracks connections through a common ancestor and is used in estate law to identify which relatives are considered heirs and how closely they are related for purposes of inheritance, especially when there isn’t a will.

Lineal descendants refer to people in the direct line (children, grandchildren, etc.), which describes a group of heirs rather than the relationship itself. Community property describes how property is owned between spouses, not a measure of blood relationship. A prenuptial agreement is a contract made before marriage about property and support, not about blood kinship.