some of the intermediaries are excluded by others, apply that ruling.

For example, suppose a person dies leaving a daughter’s daughter, the daughter of a full brother, and the daughter of a maternal half-brother. Here, a group traces its connection through a group: three persons trace their connection through three persons. First divide the estate among the intermediaries, and assume that the deceased died leaving a daughter, a full brother, and a maternal half-brother. The daughter receives one-half, and the remainder goes to the full brother; the maternal half-brother is excluded by the daughter. Thus, we say: the daughter’s daughter receives one-half, the daughter of the full brother receives the remainder, and the daughter of the maternal half-brother receives nothing.

Thus, if one person traces his or her connection through one person, he or she receives that person’s share. If a group traces its connection through one person, they receive that person’s share, inheriting it as they would if that person himself had died. If a group traces its connection through a group, we first divide the estate among the intermediaries, then let those tracing their connection through them inherit as though the intermediaries had died leaving them. This completes the discussion of the inheritance of the distant kindred.

His statement, “The lines of relationship are paternal, maternal, and filial”: these are the lines of relationship among the distant kindred. In residuary inheritance, there are five such lines, but with respect to the distant kindred they have been made three. The scholars differ on this matter, because there are no detailed textual proofs concerning the distant kindred.

The paternal line includes everyone who comes through the father’s side. A maternal half-uncle falls under the paternal line because he is your father’s brother. Likewise, the son of your paternal grandmother falls under the paternal line, since he comes through your father’s side. A maternal uncle falls under the maternal line, because your connection to him is through the mother. The children of maternal half-siblings fall under the maternal line. The established school differs on this, holding that the children of maternal half-siblings fall under the paternal line,