After a divorce are in-laws still in-laws

[eTechWV]

My jurisdiction is: WV

I thought I had read somewhere once that even after a divorce, my sister-in-law would still be considered my sister-in-law by the law. I was hoping to find a passage to state that, or object it if at all possible.

Several years back when I had read it, I wasn't searching for that topic, but just ran across it. Now, it might have been just an internet site that didn't properly cite the law. But the site seemed to have cited its references. Since I wasn't researching that topic back then, I just skimmed over it and let it be.

My brother has divorced and his ex-wife has a boyfriend that took offense to me calling her my sister-in-law, so I thought I would try to locate something and I haven't been able to find anything this time. Both the marriage and the divorce took place in WV, in case this makes a difference.

Thanks ahead of time for any and all help that anyone has to offer.

Terry

 

[dee_dub]

"In-law" is not a term that has any legal significance that I'm aware of, at least not any more. There is no legal definition, its purely linguistic convention.

In-laws are the relatives of your spouse. If you're no longer married, they are no longer your in-laws. That said, it is not uncommon for them to still be referred to (incorrectly, I would say) as in-laws.

 

[eTechWV]

"In-law" is not a term that has any legal significance that I'm aware of, at least not any more. There is no legal definition, its purely linguistic convention.

In-laws are the relatives of your spouse. If you're no longer married, they are no longer your in-laws. That said, it is not uncommon for them to still be referred to (incorrectly, I would say) as in-laws.

Thanks for your reply. You mentioned something interesting about 'in-law' as not being a term of legal significance any more. That makes me believe that it used to have some form of history behind it? Do you have any links or information of when 'in-law' used to have significance? If you don't have time, I truly understand.

Thanks again.