Family Law: Marriage, Parentage, Adoption & Parental Rights
Family Law and Kinship
Family law governs relationships, marriages, partnerships and affiliated kinship and family relationship concerns. It can be established by blood or by affinity.
Kinship may be lineal (direct) or collateral (indirect). Collateral kinship links individuals who share a common parentage. Degrees of kinship are measured between relatives. For some relationships there is a first degree. For legal effects, kinship is relevant for inheritance and maintenance (support).
Maintenance
Maintenance refers to obligations of support among relatives. It covers the economic obligation to provide food and support when required. Maintenance obligations can arise between direct line relatives and, in certain cases, among siblings.