Legal Next of Kin

According to the State of Maine, "Next of kin" means a person having the following relationship to the subject, in the following order of priority:

1. The spouse;

2. A domestic partner. For Next of Kin purposes, "domestic partner" means the partner of the subject who:

(a)  Is a mentally competent adult;

(b)  Had been legally domiciled with the subject for at least 12 months immediately preceding the death of the subject;

(c)  Is not legally married to or legally separated from another individual;

(d)  Was the sole partner of the subject; and

(e)  Was jointly responsible with the subject for each other's common welfare as evidenced by joint living arrangements, joint financial arrangements or joint ownership of real or personal property;

3. An adult son or daughter;

4. A parent;

5. An adult brother or sister;

6. An adult grandchild;

7. An adult niece or nephew who is the child of a brother or sister;

8. A maternal grandparent;

9. A paternal grandparent;

10. An adult aunt or uncle;

11. An adult first cousin;

12. Any other adult relative in descending order of blood relationship

Further information is available at:  http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/22/title22sec2843-A.html

Source: Maine Statute, Title 22: Health and Welfare; Subtitle 2: Health; Part 6: BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS; Chapter 707: DEATHS AND BURIALS; §2843-A