Legal Definitions - civil cognation

Definition: Civil cognation is a legal relationship between two people that arises through adoption or other legal means, rather than through blood or marriage.

Examples:

• An adopted child and their adoptive parent have a relationship of civil cognation.
• A step-sibling and their step-sibling do not have a relationship of civil cognation, as their relationship is based on marriage rather than legal adoption.

The examples illustrate the definition of civil cognation by showing that it is a legal relationship that is created through means other than blood or marriage. In the case of adoption, the relationship between the adoptive parent and child is legally recognized as being similar to a biological parent-child relationship, even though there is no genetic connection. This legal recognition of the relationship is what defines it as one of civil cognation.