6Meaning of senior next of kin

6 Meaning of senior next of kin

(1)  Subject to subsection (4) , a person is the senior next of kin in relation to a deceased person, including the cremated remains of the deceased person, for the purposes of this Act, if –

(a) the person is the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased person, if the administration of the estate is not complete; or

(b) if there is no person within paragraph (a) in respect of the deceased person – the person was the spouse of the deceased person immediately before the death of the deceased person; or

(c) if there is no person within paragraph (a) or (b) in respect of the deceased person – the person is the deceased person’s eldest available child, within the meaning of section 3(13) of the Evidence Act 2001 , if that child has attained the age of 18 years; or

(d) if there is no person within paragraph (a) , (b) or (c) in respect of the deceased person – the person was in a caring relationship, within the meaning of the Relationships Act 2003 , with the deceased person immediately before the death of the deceased person; or

(e) if there is no person within paragraph (a) , (b) , (c) or (d) in respect of the deceased person – the person is a parent of the deceased person; or

(f) if there is no person within paragraph (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) or (e) in respect of the deceased person – the person is the eldest available sibling of the deceased person, if that sibling has attained the age of 18 years; or

(g) if there is no person within paragraph (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) or in respect of the deceased person – the person is the personal representative of the deceased person; or