Legal Definitions - corruption of blood

Corruption of blood is a legal term that refers to a doctrine that is no longer in use. It was considered unconstitutional because it took away a person's ability to inherit or pass property as a result of being declared civilly dead or attainted.

For example, if someone was convicted of a serious crime like treason or felony, their blood was considered corrupt. This meant that neither their children nor any of their relatives could inherit their property or claim any rights to it. Even if the person was a noble or a gentleman before, they and their children would lose their status and become ignoble and ungentle.

This doctrine is no longer in use because it was considered unfair and violated the principles of justice and equality. It punished not only the person who committed the crime but also their innocent family members. Today, the law recognizes that people should not be punished for the crimes of their relatives.