Can a friend be next of kin?

A friend can be next of kin if they are closely related to you. For example, when asked for next of kin on hospital admission forms- that would be the person to contact if there are complications. It is usually a spouse, parent, sibling, or child but you can name any relative as your next of kin. A friend who is not related to you cannot be named "next of kin," but there are ways to name that person as the one to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to.