The term 'Member of the family' refers to someone related within what degree?

• A. Third Degree
• B. First Degree
• C. Second Degree
• D. Fourth Degree

Answer: (A)

Understanding kinship degrees helps explain why the term “family member” is limited to a specific distance in the family tree. Here, a family member is someone related by blood or marriage within three degrees of separation. Degrees are counted by the number of steps you must move through the family tree to reach the other person—the closer the relation, the lower the degree. The statute defines family members as up to the third degree, so someone within three steps qualifies, while someone more distant does not. That’s why third degree is the correct answer.