Next Of Kin

[tinkerfk]

My husnband predeceased his father (my father in law). My father in law passed away and had nominated me as his next of kin. Now his siblings are fighting as to whom should be able to claim his ashes. Who has the right to do this?

[hc4361]

Who is the executor of his Will?

[hc4361]

Usually the person who arranged the funeral as the funeral director cannot give them to anyone else but nobody has the final right to the ashes - there is no rule about it.
If there is a dispute it will be for the court to decide, which is not a route you want to take.

[pixie374]

There are no legal rights with "next of kin" if that helps.

[losgigs]

Do you mean you have been nominated as executor of the will? Don't think it is possible to be nominated as next of kin. Surely next of kin means nearest blood relative if spouse is nor alive.

[pixie374]

You can nominate a next of kin, but.it's more somebody to.inform for a hospital admission etc

[Peter Pedant]

I am sorry this has occurred Tinker
esp a fight over ashes

How did he nominate you as n-o-k ? was it written anywhere and signed by him ?

If he left a will ( to settle his quarrelsome siblings sensible fellow then as hc says it is the executor of the will )

if he didnt - then I am afraid the awful sibs may have a better claim.
I think ( I wonder if Barmaid is around ) isnt appointable but is a matter of the common law before 1837 ( oops big reform then )

I would negotiate on this - halve them pershaps ? divide by number of sibs plus one and share out ? agree to have a unified service ?

I am truly sorry this has occurred
the tenant I busried -his awful sibs didnt want anything to do with it in case I said here are a third of the ashes oh and by the way here is a bill for a third of the funeral cost ....

[New Judge]

Nominating anybody as "next of kin" has no legal connotations whatsoever. The best it can achieve is to make easily available the details of somebody you would like to be contacted in the event of an accident etc.