Daily AncestorNext friend
A next friend is a person who brings a lawsuit on behalf of a minor or someone unable to sue alone, without being a formal guardian.
A next friend is someone who appears in court for a person who cannot sue on their own behalf, such as a child, and who has no legal guardian. The phrase is a legal title, not a statement of friendship.
The role was often filled by a parent or other relative, so the name can help connect family members.
As seen in a recordCase heading in a chancery suit
Mary Hart, by Jas. Hill her next friend, v. Wm. Hart
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Next friend." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/relationships/next-friend. Last checked 2026-10-01.