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