California legal term
relative in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “relative” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “relative” mean in California criminal law?
“relative” means an adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words “great,” “great-great,” or “grand,” or the spouse of any of those persons, even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 727.31)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.