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gradus (gray-d<<schwa>>s), n. [Latin “step”] 1.Roman law. A step or degree in the familial relationship. • The term identified a position in the order of succession under a will. 2.Hist. A degree, rank, or grade; specif., the rank of a master-in-chancery or a serjeant-at-law. [Blacks Law 8th]

graduated tax.See TAX. [Blacks Law 8th]

graduated-payment mortgage.See MORTGAGE. [Blacks Law 8th]

graduated-payment adjustable-rate mortgage.See MORTGAGE. [Blacks Law 8th]

graduated lease.See LEASE. [Blacks Law 8th]

gradual method.An intestate-inheritance scheme that gives priority to relatives who are nearest in degree of consanguinity. • This method dates back to the English Statute of Distributions (1670). Cf. PARENTELIC METHOD; UNIVERSAL INHERITANCE RULE. [Blacks Law 8th]

grading. The fixing of a criminal offense at a level of seriousness, such as first degree, second degree, or third degree (in reference to a felony), or Class A, Class B, or Class C (in reference to a misdemeanor). See DEGREE OF CRIME . [Blacks Law 8th]

graded offense.See OFFENSE(1). [Blacks Law 8th]

grade,n. Criminal law. An incremental step in the scale of punishments for offenses, based on a particular of-fense’s seriousness <several grades of murder>. See DEGREE(2). [Blacks Law 8th]

gradatim (gr<<schwa>>-day-t<<schwa>>m), adv.[Latin] Roman law. Gradually; by successive degrees of rela-tionship. • Gradatim refers to the step-by-step admission of successors when there is no heir next in line. See GRADUS(1). [Blacks Law 8th]