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Why Are Spousal Relatives Called 'In-Laws'?

Posted: 06-19-2020 01:45 AM
by Riddick
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Tension between people and their in-laws has been around for as long as the phrase itself. No law requires you to spend every other holiday with your in-laws... Or any holiday for that matter. But that doesn't answer the question.

You may think 'in-law' means your spouse’s family is related to you by law, not by blood — yet, in actual fact the usage began as a reminder about which relatives Catholic Church canon law prohibited you from marrying. FULL STORY