Who is regarded as Next of Kin?

1 June 2011 at 00:08

Senior Next of Kin

 

The ‘senior next of kin’ (or their nominee) is our main point of contact throughout the coroner’s investigation.

They will be notified about any medical procedures and will also be  provided with updates on the progress of the investigation and any  medical reports provided to the coroner.

The senior next of kin is usually determined by the following order of priority:

• if the person, immediately before death, had a spouse or domestic partner—then the spouse or domestic partner is the senior next of kin

• if the person, immediately before death, did not have a spouse or  domestic partner or if the spouse or domestic partner is not  available—then a son or daughter of, or over, the age of 18 years is the senior next of kin

• if a spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter is not available—then a parent is the senior next of kin

• if a spouse, domestic partner, son, daughter or parent is not available—then a sibling who is of, or over, the age of 18 years is the senior next of kin

• if a spouse, domestic partner, son, daughter, parent, or sibling is not available—then a person named in the will as an executor is the senior next of kin

• if a spouse, domestic partner, son, daughter, parent, sibling or executor is not available—then a person who, immediately before the death, was a personal representative of the deceased is the senior next of kin

• if a spouse, domestic partner, son, daughter, parent, sibling, executor or personal representative is not available—then a person determined by a coroner to be taken as the senior next of kin because of the closeness of the person’s relationship with the deceased person immediately before his or her death.

 

From the Coronor’s Court of Victoria website.

http://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/