Senior next of kin is someone who is appointed as the go-to person after another person (usually close to them) has died suspiciously, violently or suddenly, causing the coroner to become involved. A coroner is the person who investigates suspicious, violent or sudden deaths.

The senior next of kin is the main point of contact in a coroner’s investigation. This person will be notified regarding any medical procedures (like autopsy), and given updates on the investigation and any medical reports given to the coroner. There is a hierarchy of who this person is, since next of kin is not a legal definition, but a social/civil construct that has been used over time to determine estate planning disputes/inheritances, and to determine who a responsible person is to take care of another person’s affairs, like their funeral, and in this case, being the recipient of coroners reports and the like.

Senior next of kin is essentially the same as next of kin in terms of how that person is decided, as follows:

• Spouse or domestic partner; then if they are not available…
• a child over the age of 18; then if they are not available…
• a parent; then if they are not available…
• a sibling who is over 18; then if they are not available…
• the named executor of the will; then if there is not a will or executor…
• a personal representative of the deceased; then if they are not available…
• a person determined by the coroner will be the senior next of kin. This could be someone close to the person.

You can apply to be senior next of kin in the event of someone close to you dying, however if there is more than one application, the coroner will have to choose. If you are considered next of kin, but don’t want to be, you can refuse. If someone close to you dies and you wish to be senior next of kin, you can apply.

If you need help with this process or there is some kind of conflict, call Vanessa Ash for a free chat about your circumstances to see if we can help you.

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