My daughter's grandfather has recently passed away leaving no will. He is survived by his daughter and his grand daughter, my daughter (her father passed away before the grandfather). I understand that she will inherit as her father, but is she considered next of kin or is that solely on the daughter? any help would be greatly appreciated at this sad and tense time.
As Hc4361 states, 'next of kin' has no formal meaning.
It's the daughter who should apply to the Probate Registry for a 'grant of representation' (in the form of 'letters of administration') which will enable her to distribute her father's estate in accordance with the provision of the Inheritance and Trustees Powers Act 2014, with the daughter and grand-daughter each getting half.
http://www.heir-tight-wills.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Rules-of-Intestacy-1-Oct-2014.pdf