The term ‘next of kin’ has no legal definition in the UK, but it's widely used in medical and practical situations to refer to the person considered your closest living relative
If you're single (which includes being in a relationship but unmarried, divorced, or widowed) and haven’t officially named anyone, your next of kin will usually be your nearest blood relative, such as a parent, sibling, or child.
That said, you can choose anyone to act as your next of kin in non-legal situations, such as a close friend or partner, even if you're not married. This choice isn’t legally binding, but you can do it by informing your GP or listing them as your emergency contact.
However, if you want that person to inherit your estate when you die, you’ll need to create a will and name them explicitly. If you don't nominate anyone, your closest living relatives will usually be treated as your next of kin.
What Does Next of Kin Mean in Practice?
In the UK, 'next of kin' simply means the person you consider closest to you. It isn’t a legal role and doesn’t give someone any automatic rights to your estate.
In practice, your next of kin is usually the person who’s contacted after your death or consulted in practical matters, like funeral arrangements. Surprisingly to many, being named as next of kin doesn’t give someone automatic rights to your estate.
Instead, if you want a specific person to receive part of your estate, you must name them in your will or appoint them through legal documents like a lasting power of attorney.
How Next of Kin is Determined When You’re Single
If you do not have a will your estate will go to the following people in this order:
Children
Parents
Siblings
Half siblings
Grand parents
Aunts or uncles
Is My Partner Automatically My Next of Kin If We Live Together?
Living with your partner doesn’t necessarily make them your next of kin, even if you have a ‘cohabitation agreement’.
Unless they are named in your will or jointly own assets with you (like a property or a joint bank account), your assets may not go to them upon your death.
A cohabitation agreement sets out financial and property arrangements for couples who live together, but it doesn’t guarantee inheritance rights.
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What Happens if I Do Not Have a Will and Have No Living Relatives?
Your estate will pass to the Crown as "ownerless property", known as bona vacantia. This includes everything you owned, including property, personal possessions, money, and any other assets.
However, this doesn't happen immediately. There are 12 years before the estate passes to the Crown. During this period, anyone who feels they have a good reason to claim the estate, such as distant or previously unknown relatives, can come forward and make a claim on the estate.
How to Nominate a Next of Kin If You're Single
If you're single and want someone who isn't a relative or spouse to be your next of kin, you'll need to make that choice clear. Here's how you can do it:
Create a Will & Include Your Chosen Next of Kin
In your will, you can state who you wish to inherit your assets, clearly identifying your next of kin. This can reduce conflicts and issues that could arise during probate.
If you don't have a will, the person you consider your next of kin may not inherit anything. Instead, the rules of intestacy come into play and inheritance goes to your closest living relative.
If you already have a will, it may be worthwhile adding a codicil specifying what's changed rather than drafting a new one.
Name Them Lasting Power of Attorney
To clarify, even if someone has Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), they do not automatically inherit your estate or become the executor of your estate. Only a will can ensure this.
By appointing them as LPA, you grant them the authority to make both financial and medical decisions in the event that you are unable to do so, such as when medically incapacitated. The LPA will end upon your death.
How Can Someone Prove They're Your Next of Kin?
The simplest way to ensure that your next of kin can prove they are exactly that is by having documents that show their legal or biological relationship to you. This includes a birth certificate, adoption certificate, or marriage certificate.
These documents are especially important when claiming inheritance under intestacy laws, or when a hospital, court, or government agency requires formal proof of the relationship.
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