In our previous article we have seen who are "Agnates" and in this present article we will see who are the "Cognates".

"Cognate" is the one who is related to the intestate by blood or adoption but not wholly through males. Cognate is defined in The Hindu Succession Act, 1956. In the absence of agnates, the property devolves upon cognates.

The definition of cognates does not extend to relatives by marriage, but is confined to relatives by blood or adoption. There is no degree of relationship beyond which kinship is not recognized so that a cognate howsoever remote to the intestate is entitled to succeed as an heir.

Excluding heirs specified in the two classes of the Schedule, all male and female relatives by blood or adoption, having legitimate kinship with the intestate are his cognates where the relationship is through one or more females. For example, a mother's brother's son and a brother's daughter's daughter are cognates.