passport - next of kin

[4getmenot]

just wondered who people have as next of kin. My last passport had my mum and older sis. Just had renewal and wonder whether i should put my boyfriend instead of sis.

[ojread2]

Who will you go on holiday with?
Your boyfriend I would assume?
Not much use putting his contact details on your passport =)

[boxtops]

You can put who you like - it's someone who can be contacted in case of emergency, and it's not recorded anywhere else. I've got a white label in mine where I changed mine. I've got my husband and my brother at the moment.

[woofgang]

Who do you want contacted in an emergency? Who do you want to make decisions if you can't? It might be as well also to think about who you are likely to be on hold with...maybe better if you NoK is not on hold with you?

[woofgang]

not hold, hols

[237SJ]

There`s room for two names anyway so you could put your boyfriend and a family member. I write mine in pencil so that I can change them if their details change.

[The Builder]

DrainBabe, I'm guessing that most of your travel would be with your boyfriend, so I think it would make sense to have someone separate as NOK.

[cathfromsaron]

i would not!

your parents know what's best, in the event of an emergency!

[boxtops]

what happens if you don't have parents any longer, cath...:-(

[4getmenot]

you will assume wrong. Im going with my mum, which makes next of kin even more difficult.

[ojread2]

then choose someone who wont ever be going on holiday with you
No good having 1 of your contacts as someone who is with you.

[spudqueen]

Don't forget to register with the Foreign Offices Locate service when you go abroad.
http://www.fco.gov.uk.../staying-safe/Locate/

[4getmenot]

well next year all my family and bloke will probably be going. I cant put a mate on seems weird. Maybe put my bloke and sis in pencil this time then think about it next time.

[dzug2]

Filling in that page is not mandatory - just leave it blank if you've really no idea who to put there.

(Just checked mine - nope, I haven't filled it in)

[DaisyNonna]

Have been told that next of kin does not mean family. So why use that expression?

[4getmenot]

if the plane goes down my passport will be in the sea anyway lol

[Maydup]

I'd suggest you put the calmest and most sensible member of the family. Its not the "legal" next of kin that's required but the person who should be contacted in event of emergency. That might be a different person to the acual NoK.

I have my sister and my stepdaughter on mine. Mum wouldn't cope with even the slightest delay let alone an emergency! and I assume I'm with OH anyway.

[Buenchico]

Passports don't use that term anyway, Daisy. They simply refer to "two relatives or friends".

While 'kin' (as per the dictionary definition) only refers to relatives, it's often used as loose shorthand for 'kith and kin' (which includes friends).

But, as you indicate, 'next of kin' isn't precisely defined in law. Sometimes the phrase is used by people seeking to find out who will inherit upon intestacy. (Under such circumstances there are clearly defined rules but the legislation doesn't actually refer to 'next of kin'). In other cases, such as telling a hospital who should be contacted in an emergency, any reference to 'next of kin' is totally unconstrained by any legal considerations. (You can put down David Cameron and Victoria Beckham if you want to!).

[vodkancoke]

I've always had my Mum and brother as next of kin. I have had my own passport since I was a child so was mainly on holiday with them. I don't really think it matters if you are on holiday with that person or not.

[redcrx]

4get, i generally have dad on mine. Why not put him and your BFs dad? unlikely youll ever be on holiday with both of them