Next Of Kin

[agardener]

I understand in UK law the term 'next of kin' has no status and is therefore undefined. My question - is it practical to have more than one person as next of kin? Anyone have any experience of this issue?

[factor-fiction]

In what circumstances are you wanting to list a 'next of kin'?

[Canary42]

It depends on who's asking - in my experience hospitals and care homes often accept more than one which makes it easier for them if one is unavailable.

[woofgang]

When my mother late was in hospital, all three of us sisters were registered as NOK with an order in which to call us.

[lcg]

and it also depends on the context/setting of next of kin. under the mental health act, for instance, it is clearly set out who is next of kin, or one has to be decided upon through the judicial system.....it is a very formal role/responsibility. more details are needed for specific advice.....

[pixie373]

Next of kin is who to contact with any problems or questions. You can have as many as you want, in order of priority for phone calls. It isn't the same as Power of attorney, which i think is what lcg has mentioned.

[lcg]

no pixie - power of attorney is different and covered under the mental capacity act etc. the mental health act has other specific functions for the next of kin - i.e. being informed of the patient's detention, whereabouts and treatment; being able to request a mental health act assessment; and participating in appeals and the processes of sectioning. as i stated before, next of kin means very different things in different places and circumstances. if the gardener wishes to have specific advice on something that is causing problems, more details are needed for us to be able to advise correctly.

[Peter Pedant]

and off the point:

I read somewhere - Sherburne on Wills (1740) possibly
that next of kin were the intestate inheritors (= heirs) at common law.

Which is kinda pre Wills Act 1837 and the intestacy legislation (wh is more modern - but only just 1926 as amended)

and the only time it comes in - is in Hospital. There would have been rules on next of kin but no one in Hospital ever knows them. We always named frenz and called them cousins - accounting for the completely different names

[Old_Geezer]

I think 'next of kin' are described differently these days. My employer wanted me to give them an emergency number. I thought 999 was a good one, but it seems they were really after the 'next of kin'. Seriously, most folk will have a number of people they don't particularly wish to prioritise. One should be able to offer a list of them.

[tonywiltshire]

It will depend on the jurisdiction and purpose to which the next of Kin is to be used; it is now sometimes referred to as the nearest relative and an order of preference in S26 of the mental health act 1983 as amended, lists the first four as:
1/ Husband or wife (or civil partner).
2/ Oldest child.
3/ Mother or Father.
4/ Oldest Brother or Sister