The Massachusetts Degrees of Kinship Chart is a document used to determine the degree of relationship between two individuals. It is most commonly used for legal purposes, such as inheritance and adoption. It is also used to identify family members in genealogical research. The chart is based upon the civil law system, which is used in Massachusetts and other U.S. states. The chart is divided into two sections—one for the ascending line and one for the descending line. In the ascending line, the degree of relationship is determined by the number of generations between two individuals. In the descending line, the degree of relationship is determined by the number of generations between the two individuals and their common ancestor. There are three types of Massachusetts Degrees of Kinship Chart: the Standard Chart, the Extended Chart, and the Special Chart. The Standard Chart is used to determine the degree of relationship between two individuals who have a common ancestor. The Extended Chart is used to determine the degree of relationship between two individuals who are related but do not have a common ancestor. The Special Chart is used to determine the degree of relationship between two individuals who are related, but have an unknown common ancestor.