What is "next friend"

Next \Next\ (n[e^]kst), a., superl. of Nigh. [AS. n[=e]hst, ni['e]hst, n[=y]hst, superl. of ne['a]h nigh. See Nigh.]

1. Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening.
   --Chaucer.

   Her princely guest Was next her side; in order sat the rest.
   --Dryden.

   Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way.
   --Bunyan.

2. Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour.

3. Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order.

   None could tell whose turn should be the next.
   --Gay.

4. Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, the next heir was an infant.

   The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
   --Ruth ii. 20.

   Note: Next is usually followed by to before an object, but to is sometimes omitted. In such cases next in considered by many grammarians as a preposition.

   Next friend (Law), one who represents an infant, a married woman, or any person who can not appear sui juris, in a suit at law.

n. (context legal English) One who represents an infant, a married woman, or any person who cannot appear ''sui juris'' in a suit at law.

n. (law) a person who acts on behalf of an infant or disabled person

In common law, a next friend ( Law French prochein ami) is a person who represents another person who is under disability or otherwise unable to maintain a suit on his or her own behalf and who does not have a legal guardian. In England and Wales they are known as litigation friends. When a relative who is next of kin acts as a 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.