Which statement best describes who is considered a family or household member under the statute?

Which statement best describes who is considered a family or household member under the statute?

• A. Spouse or former spouse, and the person's parents, step-parents, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, half brothers, half sisters, grandparents and grandchildren, regardless of residence; plus in-laws who reside in the same home; plus child in common; plus those who cohabitated within the previous 12 months with children of either party in the home.
• B. Only people related by blood or marriage who live in the same dwelling.
• C. Neighbors who share a fence.
• D. Friends who visit regularly.

Answer: (A)

The main concept is understanding who counts as a family or household member under the statute. The definition is broad and goes beyond just living together or being related by blood; it includes various close ties and past or present cohabitation patterns that create a domestic unit. The best description lists a wide range of relationships and situations: spouse or former spouse; and the person’s parents, step-parents, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, half-siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, regardless of whether they live in the same home; plus in-laws who reside in the same home; plus a child in common; plus those who cohabitated within the previous 12 months with children of either party in the home. This captures both blood and marriage connections, extended family, and intimate domestic ties that the statute treats as forming a family or household group. Mere neighbors who share a fence or friends who visit regularly do not fit this definition, as they haven’t established the familial or household relationship the statute uses for this purpose.

The main concept is understanding who counts as a family or household member under the statute. The definition is broad and goes beyond just living together or being related by blood; it includes various close ties and past or present cohabitation patterns that create a domestic unit.

The best description lists a wide range of relationships and situations: spouse or former spouse; and the person’s parents, step-parents, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, half-siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, regardless of whether they live in the same home; plus in-laws who reside in the same home; plus a child in common; plus those who cohabitated within the previous 12 months with children of either party in the home. This captures both blood and marriage connections, extended family, and intimate domestic ties that the statute treats as forming a family or household group.

Mere neighbors who share a fence or friends who visit regularly do not fit this definition, as they haven’t established the familial or household relationship the statute uses for this purpose.