The law sets a priority list for who is considered the senior next of kin for a deceased person. The order is: spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings, and finally the executor of the will or legal representative.

A coroner can appoint someone else as the senior next of kin, even if that person is not on the priority list. This can happen if the coroner decides to do it or if someone applies for it.

A coroner can specifically appoint a friend or someone in another close relationship as the senior next of kin. For deceased Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, the coroner can appoint a person from the extended family or kin based on the person's culture.

When appointing a senior next of kin, the coroner must consider the priority list and whether the usual next of kin can act. The coroner must also look at the relationship between the people involved, the circumstances of the death, and whether there were allegations of domestic or family violence against the usual next of kin.