Legal Definitions - agnation

Definition: Agnation refers to the relationship between agnates, or relatives who are related through the male line of descent.

Example 1: In some cultures, inheritance and property rights are determined by agnation, meaning that only male relatives can inherit property.

Example 2: The agnatic line of succession in many monarchies means that only male heirs can inherit the throne.

These examples illustrate how agnation is a concept that is often tied to patriarchal societies and inheritance laws that favor male relatives. It is important to note that agnation is just one way of determining familial relationships and inheritance, and that there are many cultures and societies that do not use this system.