Which of the following best describes "collaterals" in estate law?

The term "collaterals" in estate law indeed refers to relatives who are not direct descendants of the deceased but are related through siblings or other branches of the family tree. This includes siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more, who share a common ancestor with the deceased.

In the context of estate law, understanding collateral relatives is important, especially when determining the distribution of the estate in cases where there is no will or direct descendants. Collaterals can inherit under the rules of intestacy if a person dies without a will and without direct descendants.

In contrast, direct descendants refer specifically to children and grandchildren of the deceased (which aligns with option B), while beneficiaries named in a will pertain to individuals explicitly designated to receive assets, differing from collateral relatives. Family members connected through marriage (represented by option D) include in-laws and are also distinct from colaterals, who are blood relatives. Therefore, option A is the best description of "collaterals" in the realm of estate law.