Legal Definitions - consanguinity

Consanguinity is a term used to describe the blood relationship between people who share a common ancestor. It is different from affinity, which refers to the relationship between people as a result of marriage.

For example, in some states in the United States, there are laws that prohibit certain marriages that have a degree of consanguinity. In New Hampshire and North Dakota, for instance, there are statutes that prohibit marriages between close relatives. Georgia, on the other hand, prohibits marriages that have degrees of both consanguinity and affinity.

These examples illustrate how consanguinity is an important factor in determining who can legally marry. It is important to consider consanguinity to prevent genetic disorders that may arise from close relatives having children together.