perekonnaliiget

Perekonnaliige is an Estonian term meaning a member of a family. The concept covers relations based on blood, marriage, or adoption and is used in everyday language as well as in legal and administrative contexts. The standard dictionary form of the word is perekonnaliige; forms such as perekonnaliiget appear as grammatical cases within sentences.

A perekonnaliige can refer to a wide range of relatives. Commonly included are immediate family members such as parents, children, and siblings, as well as extended relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also encompassed are spouses or partners, in-laws, and, in cases of blended or adoptive families, adoptive or step-relatives. The precise scope can vary by cultural context and legal framework, but the core idea remains: a person who belongs to a family unit through kinship or affiliation.

In legal and social contexts, the term is used to designate individuals who are part of a family for purposes of rights and obligations. This can affect matters such as inheritance, guardianship, social benefits, tax considerations, and eligibility for family-related programs. The exact definition and rights attached to being a perekonnaliige are determined by the applicable jurisdiction and statutes, and can differ between countries and regions, including Estonia.

In genealogical and cultural discussions, perekonnaliige is employed to describe a person’s position within a family tree or household. Etymology traces the word to pere (family) and liige (member), reflecting its straightforward sense as a family member. See also kinship, family law, inheritance.