Victim Next of Kin Definition
In the event the victim is deceased, the legal next of kin is determined next by moving through “degrees” of kinship to the deceased person to find the closest-related living person. Please reference the questions below.
1. Is the victim alive?
Yes: STOP HERE: There is NO “next of kin.”
No: If the victim is deceased, go to number 2.
2. Was the victim legally married?
Yes: STOP HERE: The living spouse is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim was unmarried or the spouse is deceased, go to number 3.
3. Does the victim have living children?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living child is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim had no children or all children are deceased, go to number 4.
4. Does the victim have any living parents?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living parent is the “next of kin.”
No: If all parents are deceased, go to number 5.
5. Does the victim have any living grandchildren?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living grandchild is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim had no grandchildren or all grandchildren are deceased, go to number 6.
6. Does the victim have any living siblings?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living sibling is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim had no siblings or all siblings are deceased, go to number 7.
7. Does the victim have any living grandparents?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living grandparent is the “next of kin.”
No: If all grandparents are deceased, go to number 8.
8. Does the victim have any living great-grandchildren?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living great-grandchild is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim had no great-grandchildren or all great-grandchildren are deceased, go to number 9.
9. Does the victim have any living nieces or nephews?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living niece and nephew is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim had no nieces or nephews or all nieces and nephews are deceased, go to number 10.
10. Did the victim have any uncles or aunts?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living uncle and aunt is the “next of kin.”
No: If the victim had no aunts or uncles or all aunts and uncles are deceased, go to number 11.
11. Did the victim have any great-grandparents?
Yes: STOP HERE: Each living great-grandparent is the “next of kin.”
No: If all great-grandparents are deceased, the next living relative is the next of kin