Law Dictionary Definitions

relative,n. A person connected with another by blood or affinity; a person who is kin with another. — Also termed relation; kinsman. Cf. NEXT OF KIN(1). blood relative.One who shares an ancestor with another. collateral relative.A relative who is not in the direct line of descent, such as a cousin. [Cases: Descent and Distribution 32–41.…

relationship rape.See RAPE. [Blacks Law 8th]

relationship. The nature of the association between two or more people; esp., a legally recognized association that makes a difference in the participants’ legal rights and duties of care. attorney–client relationship.The formal legal representation of a person by a lawyer. • An attorney–client relationship may be found, for disciplinary purposes, without any formal agreement. confidential…

  relation back,n.1. The doctrine that an act done at a later time is, under certain circumstances, treated as though it occurred at an earlier time. • In federal civil procedure, an amended pleading may relate back, for purposes of the statute of limitations, to the time when the original pleading was filed. Fed. R.…

relation. See RELATIVE. [Blacks Law 8th]

related right.See NEIGHBORING RIGHT. [Blacks Law 8th]

  related proceeding.Bankruptcy. A proceeding that involves a claim that will affect the administration of the debtor’s estate (such as a tort action between the debtor and a third party), but that does not arise under bankruptcy law and could be adjudicated in a state court. • A related proceeding must be adjudicated in federal…

rejoinder,n. Common-law pleading. The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s reply (or replication). [Cases: Pleading 183. C.J.S. Pleading § 229.] — rejoin,vb. [Blacks Law 8th]

related good.Trademarks. A good that infringes a trademark because it appears to come from the same source as the marked good, despite not competing with the marked good. • For example, a cutting tool named “McKnife” might infringe the “McDonald’s” trademark as a related good. [Blacks Law 8th]

rejoinder,n. Common-law pleading. The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s reply (or replication). [Cases: Pleading 183. C.J.S. Pleading § 229.] — rejoin,vb. [Blacks Law 8th]