What is an example of a collateral relative in making arrangements?

Collateral relatives are family members who are not in a direct line of descent from the deceased but are still related. An uncle or aunt fits this definition perfectly as they are siblings of the deceased's parents, making them a type of collateral relative. They do not have a direct parent-child relationship with the deceased, which distinguishes them from immediate family members like children or spouses.

In this context, a spouse and a child of the deceased are considered direct relatives, as they are directly involved in the lineage of the deceased. A grandparent, while related, is also in the direct line of descent and represents a direct family connection rather than a collateral one. Thus, recognizing that an uncle or aunt is an example of a collateral relative helps to clarify the family relationships involved in making arrangements after a death.