Different family ties

A family relationship is based on personal ties between persons. These are most commonly blood ties. However, you may also be bound to your family members through an officially recognized relationship such as marriage or adoption, or because you live together.

Blood relatives

We often use the word “family” in reference to our relatives. We are bound to all the members of our family (and kin) by virtue of these biological ties. The mutual rights and obligations of parents and children arise from the filiation of children (Estonian Family Law Act). 

example Your blood relatives are your biological parents, grandparents, siblings and your biological children. Siblings and grandparents and grandchildren are also blood relatives and their relationship is protected by the right to a family life.

Legally recognized family

The relationship between family members may also be founded on legal recognition by the State. Getting married and registering a partnership are two examples of starting a family that enjoys recognition by the state.

example A marriage establishes a relationship between a husband and a wife, as well as a relationship to their respective relatives – a father-in-law, a mother-in-law, a brother- or sister-in-law, etc. An adoption also establishes a relationship between adopted children and their adoptive parents, as well as creating ties between the children and other relatives of their adoptive parents.

Other relationships

A factual relationship, such as a co-habiting couple, may also be considered to be a family, if it satisfies certain criteria. In order to assess whether such a relationship constitutes a family, a number of factors may be relevant: 

  • whether the couple lives together
  • the length of their relationship
  • whether they have children in common
  • whether they have demonstrated their commitment to each other by other means

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