Next friend

In common law, a next friend, from the Law French prochein ami, is a person who represents another person who is under age or, because of disability or otherwise, is unable to maintain a suit on their own behalf and who does not have a legal guardian. The role may also be known as a litigation friend, a guardian ad litem or a litigation guardian. When a relative who is next of kin acts as next friend for a person, that person is sometimes instead described as the natural guardian of the person. A next friend has full power over the proceedings in the action as if he or she were an ordinary plaintiff, until a guardian or guardian ad litem is appointed in the case, but the next friend is entitled to present evidence only on the same basis as any other witness.