Legal Definitions - Next friend

Definition: A next friend is a person who represents someone in court who is not able to do so themselves, usually because they are a minor or considered incompetent. This person is legally competent and acts in the best interest of the person they are representing. They are not a party to the proceeding and are not a formally-appointed guardian, but rather an agent of the court.

• A parent acting as a next friend for their child in a custody case.
• A friend representing someone who has been in a coma and is unable to make decisions for themselves.

These examples illustrate how a next friend can step in to represent someone who is not able to do so themselves. In both cases, the next friend is acting in the best interest of the person they are representing and is not a party to the proceeding.