The Italian Civil Code (Articles 74 ff) contain the criteria for determining the degree of kinship and affinity of your relatives. This degree is a fundamental concept in Italian law and is an essential part of, among other things, the rules of inheritance and succession.
The table in the pdf document below below the degrees of kinship between you and one of your relatives under Italian law.
Your Relatives' Degree of Kinship
| Relative | Degree & Line |
|---|---|
| Parents | 1st degree – direct ascending line |
| Grandparents | 2nd degree – direct ascending line |
| Great-grandparents | 3rd degree – direct ascending line |
| Children | 1st degree – direct descending line |
| Grandchildren | 2nd degree – direct descending line |
| Great-grandchildren | 3rd degree – direct descending line |
| Brothers and sisters (siblings) | 2nd degree – lateral relatives |
| Nieces / nephews (children of siblings) | 3rd degree – lateral relatives |
| Grand-nieces / grand-nephews (children of nieces/nephews) | 4th degree – lateral relatives |
| Children of grand-nieces / grand-nephews | 5th degree – lateral relatives |
| Paternal and maternal uncles / aunts (parents’ siblings) | 3rd degree – lateral relatives |
| Cousins (children of uncles/aunts) | 4th degree – lateral relatives |
| Children of cousins | 5th degree – lateral relatives |
| Children of children of cousins | 6th degree – lateral relatives |
| Great-uncles / great-aunts (grandparents’ siblings) | 4th degree – lateral relatives |
| Parents’ cousins | 5th degree – lateral relatives |
| Children of parents’ cousins | 6th degree – lateral relatives |