Social classifications are increasingly interrelated, far-reaching, and consequential for socioeconomic outcomes. We use the concept of marginalized legal categories to describe how the law disadvantages individuals or groups by transforming inherently ordered social classifications into consequential legal categories, employing intestacy laws as an illustration. Using the Survey of Consumer Finances, we find that more than 21% of American families have forms that are marginalized by intestacy classifications, and that such forms are more common among individuals of color and those with less wealth. Yet, many individuals with these family structures hold assets and lack access to intestacy-avoidance mechanisms, giving consequence to the application of these laws. We conclude by discussing implications of legal classification for inequality.

中文翻译：

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边缘化的法律类别：社会不平等，家庭结构和无遗证法

社会分类越来越相互关联，影响深远，并且对社会经济成果具有重要意义。我们使用边缘化法律类别的概念来描述法律如何通过将固有的有序社会分类转换为相应的法律类别（以无遗嘱法律为例）来使个人或群体处于不利地位。通过《消费者金融调查》，我们发现超过21％的美国家庭的表型在肠道分类方面处于边缘地位，并且这种表型在有色人种和财富较少的人中更常见。然而，许多具有这些家庭结构的人拥有资产，并且缺乏使用避免肠粘膜的机制，这导致了这些法律的适用。最后，我们讨论法律分类对不平等的影响。