What Is NOK
The person who knows you best is not always the person the law expects to speak for you.
NOK stands for next of kin: the person hospitals turn to when you can't speak for yourself. Most people never think about it until the moment it matters.
HOW IT WORKS
Your Next of Kin
When you're in a medical crisis and can't make decisions, someone has to. If you haven't named anyone, Nevada law follows a set order:
1
Healthcare Power of Attorney
2
Spouse or Domestic Partner
3
Adult Child
4
Parent
5
Adult Sibling
1
Healthcare Power of Attorney
2
Spouse or Domestic Partner
3
Adult Child
4
Parent
5
Adult Sibling
This hits hardest for people whose real family doesn't match the legal default.
Unmarried partners.
LGBTQ+ folks with chosen family.
Former foster youth.
Anyone estranged from their family of origin.
You can override the default by naming your person in writing. You decide who speaks for you, and the law respects it.
Ready to name your person?
It takes about 15 minutes: a piece of paper, your signature, and two witnesses or a notary. We'll walk you through every step, plus a free wallet card to make it easy.
Get Started
Why Know Your NOK?
Most of us assume the people closest to us would automatically be involved if something went wrong. But the default system doesn't work that way. Hospitals follow a legal hierarchy and that hierarchy doesn't account for chosen family, unmarried partners, or the people who actually know you.
Why it Matters