A person who speaks out on the behalf or for the benefit for a person who is a minor or not competent to speak on their own behalf and is not appointed by the court.
A person appointed to stand in the place of a plaintiff who is a minor, or otherwise under legal disability.
A person authorized to represent someone who was disqualified to act on his or her own behalf in a court of law. \(Such as a minor, a married woman, or any mentally incompetent person.)
One acting without formal appointment as guardian for the benefit of an infant, a person of unsound mind not judicially declared incompetent, or other person under some disability.
One who acts for the benefit of an incompetent or minor plaintiff, but who is not a party to the lawsuit and is not appointed as a guardian. During this period, married women and children could require a next friend in order to sue in court.
One acting without formal appointment as guardian for benefit of minor or incompetent plaintiff and who is not party to the lawsuit.
Someone who acts without formal appointment as a guardian for the benefit of an infant, an incompetent person, or someone who is under a disability.
A person recognised as being able to bring legal proceedings and accept reponsibility for these proceeding on behalf of someone who lacks legal capacity eg: the parent of a child. Now known as Litigation Guardian. Related links: Children & Civil Law
A person appointed to act formally for a minor in small claims court who is not the minor's regular guardian.
A person, usually a relative, who appears in court on behalf of a minor or incompetent plaintiff, but who is not a party to the lawsuit. For example, children are often represented in court by their parents as "next friends."
(see GUARDIAN) A person representing a minor or mental patient who is involved in legal proceedings
Next friend, in British law and American law, is the phrase used for a person who represents in an action another person who is under disability or otherwise unable to maintain a suit on their own behalf as a result of their circumstances, who does not have a legal guardian.