In law and in cultural anthropology, affinity is the kinship relationship created or that exists between two people as a result of someone's marriage. It is the relationship which each party to a marriage has to the relations of the other partner to the marriage, but it does not cover the marital relationship itself.

What is an affinal family?

Affinal kin are individuals who are related to you by marriage. ... Although they are considered to be members of your family, the kinship tie can be broken if the marriage dissolves, rendering you no longer related to the individual in question.

What is affinal relatives are related by?

Affinal kin, or affines, are relatives by marriage or your in-laws; if the marriage ends, they are no longer affines.