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relative

Defined in 6 dictionaries — U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Anderson (1889), Abbott (1879)

United States Code

11 U.S.C. § 101 — in this title (2 versions over time)

The term “relative” means individual related by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree as determined by the common law, or individual in a step or adoptive relationship within such third degree.

18 U.S.C. § 4082 — as used in this section

the term “relative” shall mean a spouse, child (including stepchild, adopted child or child as to whom the prisoner, though not a natural parent, has acted in the place of a parent), parent (including a person who, though not a natural parent, has acted in the place of a parent), brother, or sister.

29 U.S.C. § 1002 — for purposes of this subchapter

The term “relative” means a spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant, or spouse of a lineal descendant.

Show all 3 definitions and how they changed over time

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

One connected with another by blood or affinity; a relation; a kinsman or kinswoman.

In an adjective sense, having relation or connection with some other person or thing; as, relative rights, relative powers.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

One related by blood. See 83 Me. 197, 13 L. R. A. 37, 22 Atl. 115.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A kinsman; a person connected with another by blood or affinity. A person or thing having relation or connection with seme other person or thing; as, relative rights, relative powers, mfra.

Relative confession. See Confession.

Relative fact. In the law of evidence. A fact having relation to another fact; a minor fact; a circumstance.

Relative powers. Those which relate to land; so called to distinguish them from those which are collateral to it.

Relative rights. Those rights of persons which are incident to them as members of society, and standing in various relations to each other. 1 Bl. Comm. 123. Those rights of persons in private life which arise from the civil and domestic relations. 2 Kent, Comm. 1. Relative words refer to the next antecedent, unless the sense be thereby impaired. Noy, Max. 4; Wing. Max. 19; Broom, Max. 606; Jenk. Cent 180.

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

See Absolute; Relation, 3; Right, 2.

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

See Relation. Under a bequest to " relatives," the next of kin, according to the statute of distributions, are entitled to take, there being nothing in the will to the contrary. Drew v. Wakefield, 54 Me. 291. A bequest to relatives, generally, will be construed as referring to persons connected by blood, and not by marriage. Ordinarily, the statute of distributions may be consulted to show who these are; but, in a case where the testator described and specified certain of his " nearest " relatives, the description was applied independently of the statute. Ennis v. Pentz, 3 Bradf. 382.